OCALA, Fla. – The Ocala Police Department has announced the arrest of Albert Shell Jr., the suspect in a shooting at the Paddock Mall last month that resulted in the death of one man and the injury of a woman. The arrest was made with the help of the United States Marshals Service and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
Police Chief Mike Balken stated in a news conference that tips from the public were crucial in solving the case and locating Shell. He was found at a home approximately 20 miles southwest of Ocala, and after a two-hour negotiation, he surrendered to law enforcement.
The suspect faces charges of premeditated first-degree murder and attempted premeditated first-degree murder. The shooting occurred inside the mall’s “common area,” prompting an active shooter situation and causing chaos among last-minute Christmas shoppers.
The victim, 40-year-old David Nathaniel Barron, was found dead at the scene, while a woman was hospitalized with a gunshot wound to the leg. Authorities revealed that Barron and Shell may have had a prior work relationship, but did not provide further details about the motive behind the shooting.
Balken expressed confidence in Shell’s arrest, emphasizing his lengthy criminal history and stating that he should have been incarcerated long before the shooting occurred.
In conclusion, Albert Shell Jr. has been apprehended in connection with the Paddock Mall shooting, in which one person was killed and another injured. The arrest was a result of collaboration between the Ocala Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. Shell faces serious charges and is expected to face the consequences of his actions.