Police: Suspected shoplifter's gun fired during struggle with security at Green Acres Mall on Long Island
VALLEY STREAM, N.Y. -- A shoplifting suspect fired his gun during a struggle with a security officer inside Green Acres Mall on Long Island late Monday morning.
The gunman fled not fully clothed as stores went into lockdown protocol and police swarmed the crowded mall in Valley Stream.
Police said the armed and brazen shoplifting suspect, who put on layers of shirts and pants over his own clothes, was confronted by security inside the Clique boutique.
"The individual stated 'I have a gun.' He pulled the gun out, they started to struggle with the gun, a round went off," said Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder.
A single shot from the suspect's gun was fired into the floor, causing panic, police said.
The armed suspect started running and shedding the layers of clothes he was trying to steal, according to police. He was only wearing a sneaker, underwear and a t-shirt by the time he got outside.
"And he ran out wearing a red shirt, boxer shorts and one sneaker," said Ryder.
Security gave chase and the mall went into an immediate lockdown. Gates came down, locking shoppers inside stores for safety, and many remained closed for the day.
Other stores, including the one where it all began, reopened with a police presence.
"I think if the police were at Green Acres Mall all the time, stuff like this would be prevented," one person said.
The suspect and driver left the premises going east on Mill Road.
"He fled down to the first floor into the parking garage where he got into a red SUV. That red SUV had no back plate on it. We tracked him through the camera system," Ryder said.
Schools in the vicinity also locked in students, under the Rave safety protocol.
"We recovered some evidence there, a shell casing and a round," said Ryder. "The mall has been cleared and it's now open for business and it is completely safe."
Police said they were scouring through videos and photos of the suspect they plan to make public.
