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1 Jailed, 3 Sought After Man Shot At Lakeland Mall

Photo by Keiland Smith

Police officers with dogs go store to store searching for suspects in a shooting at a Lakeland mall. The front security cages were locked down and as each search began, employees were allowed to leave a store.

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By GEORGE H. NEWMAN and RAY REYES

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 18, 2008

Updated: 06/18/2008 12:26 am

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  Ariel Scott

LAKELAND When gunshots rang out Tuesday afternoon at Lakeland Square Mall, Mike Shihaibar ushered customers to the rear of his store, then rushed to the front to close the metal gate.

Before he could do so, a man wandered past him. Shihaibar, the manager of Park Avenue Menswear, asked the man whether he was OK.

"I don't know," the man said. He took off his shirt and looked down. He had a bullet wound in his chest and another in his shoulder, Shihaibar said.

The shooting about 3 p.m. near the food court prompted a massive response from authorities. Lakeland police officers and Polk County sheriff's deputies surrounded the mall at 3800 U.S. 98 N. and locked down the west wing, where the shooting took place.

A SWAT team and canine units searched for two men and two women who they said were connected to the shooting. The suspects fled the scene, but police arrested Ariel A. Scott, 18, of 5115 N. Socrum Loop No. 455, Lakeland, late Tuesday night.

Scott has been charged with attempted murder in connection to the mall shooting, Lakeland police spokesman Jack Gillen said.

Police continued their search early Wednesday morning for the three other suspects.

The motive for the shooting was unclear, Gillen said.

The man who had been shot, identified by police as Andre Maurice Warner, 18, of Frostproof, sat on the floor and waited until paramedics arrived, Shihaibar said. Warner was taken by ambulance to Lakeland Regional Medical Center, where he was listed as stable Tuesday night, Gillen said.

Lakeland Square mall's west wing opened about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, said Gilbert Bankston, general manager. Police asked people to avoid the mall in the first few hours after the shooting, but sections of the building remained open for shoppers.

The mall will resume its normal business hours today, Bankston said.

Keiland Smith walked into the mall while authorities were searching for suspects. He was looking for a birthday gift but did not buy one because police systematically closed the metal gates of each store. Employees could not leave until officers checked the surrounding areas and ensured they were safe, Smith said.

"It was quite interesting to see," said Smith, 44, a charter fishing boat captain. Employees were "a little frustrated and a little excited" during the search but otherwise, the atmosphere was calm, Smith said.

Shihaibar said he heard three gunshots. Even then, no one panicked on his side of the mall, he said.

Sales associates at JCPenney told a different story. When the shots were fired near Piccadilly Cafeteria, people screamed and ran for the exits, Serena Hoppe, 20, said.

Shopper Ashley Benjamin told a News Channel 8 reporter that she was standing near a pet store when she noticed the four suspects walk by. One of the men pulled out a gun from the waistband of his pants and fired through the window of the cafeteria, Benjamin said.

Reporter George H. Newman can be reached at (813) 865-4451 or gnewman@tampatrib.com. Reporter Ray Reyes can be reached at rreyes@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7920.

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