COLORADO SPRINGS — Viewers called our newsroom to tip us off to a significant police presence at The Citadel Mall Wednesday afternoon.
According to the Colorado Springs Police Department, they responded to a call of a shooting around 1:25 p.m. Police say this is not an active shooter scene.
Officers confirm that at least one person has been hurt and is suffering from serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
According to officers on the scene, the shooting happened after a person at the mall had their phone stolen. The person who had their phone stolen proceeded to chase the suspect and ended up in the basement of the mall.
A struggle ensued and the suspect stole a gun the victim had on them and shot the victim.
Caitlin Ford, a spokesperson with the CSPD, said the suspect was shot in the leg.
The mall was put on a brief lockdown but has since been secured. No suspect information has been released at this time.
Passengers waiting for a bus a the Mountain Metro Terminal at the mall's transfer center shared their concerns about public safety.
"I just think it's just getting worse," said Fernando Pierron who works at a bank nearby. "I try to get here early enough to get home before dark because people that hang around are kind of suspicious and there's not any security, nobody trusts the cops, really."
Elementary school teacher Lakesha Luckey said she only recently began taking the bus after a car crash. She said news of the shooting was "really unfortunate" given how close the violence came to local schools.
"That's not something that is nice to hear about. I would rather hear something nice but you know it's unfortunate that someone was hurt."
She was relieved to hear that the victim is expected to survive.
Ford with the CSPD encouraged anyone in the public who may have witnessed the altercation or shooting to contact the department at 719-444-7000.
To leave an anonymous tip, call Pikes Peak Area Crime Stoppers at 719-634-STOP (7867.)
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