UPDATE: Man accidentally shoots self during fight at Hamilton Place Mall – Local 3 News
UPDATE: A Chattanooga teen who police say shot himself in the foot while firing at a group he was fighting with at the Hamilton Place Mall is now facing multiple charges.
Police were called to Dick’s Sporting Goods after receiving reports of an active shooter Saturday afternoon, according to an arrest report obtained by Local 3 News.
Employees told officers that someone shot themselves while shooting at a group of guys he was fighting with inside the store, then fled the scene.
Officers found blood on the floor aligning with this story as they secured the scene.
Pictures from the scene
After shots were fired, mall shoppers went into a mass panic. Clothing racks were knocked over, people dropped their belongings while running away, and one man even armed himself with a golf club in case he encountered the shooter.
Meanwhile, 18-year-old Jaylynn Gerald drove himself to the Erlanger East Hospital, throwing a gun later discovered to be stolen underneath a car, according to the affidavit. He left a trail of blood in the parking lot.
Once Gerald showed up to Erlanger East, they transported him to Erlanger Main downtown due to the severity of his injuries.
The hospital notified police, who secured his car as evidence.
Detectives spoke with more Dick’s employees and reviewed security camera footage inside the store.
They say a group followed Gerald through the mall, and as he was leaving, he got into a verbal and physical altercation.
A witness told police that the suspect yelled “Are we doing this?” as he made his way toward the group.
A man in a tan sweatsuit is seen on camera making initial physical contact as others join in, pushing him to the floor.
Police say his assailants then start to suddenly run away in a panic as Gerald pulls a gun out and shot towards them through an open door to the parking lot.
One of the three shots landed in Gerald’s foot.
Officers, who found shell casings and the gun that was thrown underneath a car, tried questioning him in the hospital, but he denied and requested a lawyer.
Gerald faces the following charges:
- Reckless endangerment
- Theft of property (stolen firearm)
- Possessing a firearm with intent to go armed
- Inciting a riot
More charges are pending for other individuals involved, but they fled before officers could arrest them.
Gerald is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday, December 3.
PREVIOUS STORY: The man who was injured during a fight at Dick’s Sporting Goods had pulled a gun and accidentally shot himself, District 4 Councilman Cody Harvey says.
The man has non-life-threatening injuries.
The mall has reopened since the incident, but Dick’s will remain closed as officers investigate.
We’re working to learn how many people were involved in the fight, how many shots were fired, and if any criminal charges will be filed.
Harvey, who called the man an “idiot or moron” warned people wanting to commit crime in the city to stay home.
“Don’t come out here and look for violence, or we’re gonna put you in jail for a really long time,” the councilman said.
PREVIOUS STORY: A fight led to a shooting at the Hamilton Place Mall Saturday afternoon.
The Chattanooga Police Department tells us one person shot himself during the incident inside the Dick’s Sporting Goods. His condition is unknown.
The mall was placed on lockdown temporarily, a spokesperson for the shopping center confirmed to Local 3. The lockdown has since been lifted.
Dick’s Sporting Goods will be closed for the foreseeable future as investigators find out what went down.
One witness on scene says her daughter and her were entering Barnes and Noble when it happened.
“[W]e were met with a stampede of people running out as they were yelling to leave and get out with no explanation as to what had happened,” Lisa Rector told us via Facebook messenger. “We followed the actions of others which was to run back to our vehicles where we started to notice others frantic, crying and chatter of others mentioning hearing gunshots and active shooters in the mall.”
Another person who messaged us and requested to remain anonymous said her family was eating at the mall when it happened.
“People by smoothie king started screaming and running and I heard gunshots so we got up and ran,” she said. “My little sister is 6 and we are all traumatized. There were people being trampled and this old woman was on the ground being pushed. Kids were screaming and they looked lost and overall it was extremely scary and traumatic.”
PREVIOUS STORY: We are working to learn more about an emergency response to the Hamilton Place Mall.
Viewers report a heavy police presence in the area.
We are working to learn more.
