Toledo police arrests teen who fired gun in Franklin Park Mall, injuring himself and 15-year-old
By: Two teenagers were injured in a shooting at the Franklin Park Mall Tuesday evening, detectives at the scene said. Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz tells 13 Action News it was an accident in which a 16-year-old boy accidentally shot himself, along with a 15-year-old girl when a bullet ricocheted. The teens suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
Toledo Police said Wednesday that the 16-year-old boy has been charged with felonious assault, inducing panic and illegally carrying a concealed weapon. 13 Action News does not name minors accused of crimes unless the courts certify them as adults.
It happened in the food court around 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, prompting the mall to go under lockdown. Multiple officers were already in the food court for crowd control the moment the gun went off, and numerous additional units immediately responded after. Video shows officers chasing a suspect out of the food court, through Dick’s Sporting Goods and into the parking lot where he managed to elude police.
Kapszukiewicz said Toledo Police Chief Mike Troendle gave him the information about the accidental shooting, and that the 16-year-old boy was taken into custody when officers found him hiding in a dumpster behind a nearby business. Timestamps from body camera footage and security footage police released Wednesday show officers found the teen in the dumpster and arrested him within about 15 minutes of the gun going off.
“The only thing that should cause fear is that the USA is the only place where there’s more guns than people,” Kapszukiewicz said. He said an accident like this could happen anywhere.
Representatives with Franklin Park Mall were not available for an interview but said in a statement Wednesday its security teams work with police to make sure proactive safety measures are in place.
“The safety of our guests, tenants and employees is the highest priority of Franklin Park Mall. We thank Toledo Police for their swift and thorough response to yesterday’s isolated incident. It continues to be an active investigation being led by the Toledo Police,” a statement from a mall spokesperson read. “While details of our security plans and deployment are confidential, our security teams are onsite 24/7 as well as consistent presence from TPD. We continue to work in tandem with TPD to ensure every proactive measure available is being taken.”
Security footage Toledo Police released Wednesday appears to show several officers chasing a person through Dick’s Sporting Goods and outside into the parking lot as dozens of mall-goers run outside. We’re working to learn more about the incident. Check back for updates.