INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — A 16-year-old boy was shot in the leg inside Independence Center in Independence, Missouri, on Thursday evening, prompting the mall to close for the remainder of the night.
Law enforcement personnel from multiple jurisdictions responded after the incident, which occurred shortly before 5:1`5 p.m., to help search for possible suspects and secure the scene, according to a Missouri State Highway Patrol spokesperson.
One person was taken into custody.
The Independence Police Department confirmed the shooting in a post to Facebook around 6 p.m., asking the public to stay away from Independence Center.
"Police officers were working off-duty security and heard shots fired," Independence police said in a Facebook post. "Located a subject shot in the leg and provided life saving medical assistance. The subject a 16 year old male was transported to an area hospital. One other subject has been detained."
The investigation remains active, but there is no longer an active search for additional suspects inside the mall.
The shooting reportedly near Dick’s Sporting Goods, which is located on the west side of the shopping center, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Police officers from multiple jurisdictions along with at least one Missouri State Highway Patrol deputy have responded to the scene. Jackson County Sheriff's deputies also responded to assist the Independence Police Department, according to a tweet from Sheriff Darryl Forte.
Jackson County Sheriff’s Office deputies are on scene with the Independence Police Department at the Independence Center where a shooting is being reported. Details will be provided by the Independence Police Department. @CityOfIndepMO @JacksonCountyMO @KCMO @JCSheriffOffice pic.twitter.com/NWDk8J50jM
— Darryl Forte' (@sheriffforte) January 1, 2021
Independence Center has been in the news recently after large-scale fights led city leaders to impose a curfew on unattended minors near the mall and other shopping centers along that corridor.
Multiple juveniles were detained after several hundred teenagers caused problems, including a handful of fights, in late October.
At least 10 people were arrested last weekend after another series of disturbances.
Businesses in the area have been adjusting to the curfew amid the spike in incidents at the mall, which was rescued from the brink of a foreclosure sale in February 2018 by Pacific Retail Capital Partners.
This article was written by Tod Palmer for KSHB.
