Man killed in shooting at Florida's Paddock Mall ahead of Christmas

• Police received calls describing “active shooter” scenario.
• Authorities labelled shooting as "targeted act of violence".
  
• Mall owners working closely with police to investigate incident. 
  

A man was killed while a woman was injured following a mass shooting at a mall in Ocala, Florida on Saturday afternoon, the Ocala Police Chief Mike Balken reported.

He revealed that the police received 911 calls describing an “active shooter” scenario with multiple shots fired inside the Paddock Mall, so they responded with a heavy police presence, CNN reported.

“Officers immediately made entry into the mall and ultimately discovered this was not an active shooter situation,” Balken said.

Balken said that the police have labelled the shooting as a "targeted act of violence," noting that one man was found dead from bullet wounds and another woman had a leg injury.

After being taken to a hospital, he continued, it is anticipated that the woman would survive.

Police are searching for a Black male wearing a black hoodie, pants, and a black mask.

Additionally, the Ocala Police Department reports that although the mall is still closed, residents can now access their cars in the parking lot.

Syriah Williams, 18, was shopping with her mother at the mall when a shooting occurred. She said that they heard one shot, then three more, and chaos ensued.

Mall employees instructed everyone to run, and Williams managed to escape through the storage area, opened by the employees, and a hallway leading to a back exit.

WPG, owners of the Paddock Mall issued a statement Saturday night following the shooting:

“We are deeply saddened by this tragedy. Our thoughts are with all those involved. The safety of our guests, retailers and employees is our top priority. We are working closely with the Ocala Police Department as they investigate this incident.”

Gun violence deaths are approaching 42,000 for the year, according to the Gun Violence Archive, CNN reported.

Communities large and small across the country are searching for ways to curb the violence, as state-level efforts to regulate firearms in California, New York, Maryland and elsewhere have failed in court.

The shooting occurred at a shopping mall only two days before Christmas which, according to analysts, is one of the busiest shopping days of the year, second only to Black Friday.