Do you recognize these men? VCU releases images in wake of mall shooting
By WVUA 23 News Reporter Aajene Robinson
West Alabama investigators are still searching for those responsible for a shooting that injured four people at University Mall on Saturday, but they need your help identifying several men caught on camera.
Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit Capt. Jack Kennedy said they haven’t apprehended any suspects, but those seen in the photos released Tuesday are persons of interest.
“We were able to obtain some video from some of the independent businesses that are within University Mall,” Kennedy said. “These are some gentlemen we would very much like to speak with to determine if they are involved or if they’re witnesses or whatnot.”
When Tuscaloosa Police responded in the wake of the shooting Saturday, they quickly realized there weren’t many security officers on-hand and little in the way of surveillance cameras in the food court, where the shooting took place.
District 2 Tuscaloosa City Council Member Raevan Howard said she’s making a request with the city to increase security and surveillance cameras inside the mall. University Mall is in Kip Tyner’s District 5, but Howard represents Midtown Village across the street. The Shoppes at Legacy Park across 15th Street from Midtown Village is in District 4, represented by Lee Busby.
Howard said her goal is developing an in-depth conversation among city leaders at next month’s Public Safety Committee meeting. She’s the chair of that committee.
“The purpose of asking for it to go to our Public Safety Committee meetings is that so that we can have time to figure out who are the owners of the mall, what they are willing to provide, if they need any assistance, do they understand the importance of us having security at the mall,” Howard said. “We need to be able to answer those questions, so I’m asking that we can discuss this further in the Public Safety Committee meetings so that all the counselors can come together and discuss their concerns and desires for this business in Tuscaloosa.”
Tuesday’s Public Safety Committee meeting was canceled, as was the city’s Financial Committee meeting.
Some employees at University Mall said they’re concerned for their safety in the wake of Saturday’s shooting.
Tuscaloosa County High School senior Colby Lamkin works at the mall and said something like this was bound to happen sooner or later.
“Honestly there’s a fight in here every week,” Lamkin said. “I feel like they try to do a good job with law enforcement in here but it’s such a big place and there are so many people, you just never really know when something is going to happen.”
University Mall employee Felipe Bravo said he and his employees hid in the back of their shop as soon as they heard the shots.
“Not going to lie, it doesn’t feel safe now,” he said. “We need more cameras here in the mall and more security.”
If you have any information regarding the shooting, please contact the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit at 205-464-8690.
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