Crime
Reports of shooting at Outlets mall in Little Rock
LITTLE ROCK, AR — Authorities are responding to a reported shooting at the Outlets of Little Rock on Wednesday afternoon, prompting a lockdown of the shopping center.
According to initial reports, the incident occurred near Kay Jewelers inside the mall. A video circulating online appears to show an individual brandishing a firearm within the premises.
Law enforcement sources confirmed that at least one person sustained non-life-threatening injuries during the incident.
Beckie Whipple Smith, a local resident, stated that her granddaughter, who manages the Five Below store at the outlet, was not working at the time of the incident but returned to the scene to assist law enforcement. According to Smith, her granddaughter remained at the store to secure it and provide police with surveillance footage.
At this time, the suspected shooter remains at large. Police have placed all stores within the mall on lockdown as they continue to secure the scene and investigate.
No additional injuries have been confirmed, and officials are urging the public to avoid the area.
The investigation remains active and ongoing.
Authorities have identified the man shot and killed Friday afternoon in a parking lot outside a Little Caesars restaurant in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood.
The victim has been named as Stevens Jeffrey, 29, according to police and the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office.
The shooting occurred in the 2600 block of West Cermak Road near Rockwell Street at approximately 1:10 p.m., according to the Chicago Police Department (CPD).
Preliminary reports indicate that Jeffrey was sitting in his vehicle when he was approached by an unknown vehicle.
An armed individual exited that vehicle and opened fire, striking Jeffrey multiple times in the face and body.
Emergency responders arrived on the scene, where Jeffrey was pronounced dead. He was discovered inside his vehicle with his two young children, ages 4 and 6, who were unharmed.
Both children were transported to Stroger Hospital for precautionary evaluation.
The shooting took place in the parking lot of a Little Caesars restaurant, where investigators recovered multiple shell casings and placed numerous evidence markers on the ground.
As of Friday evening, no suspects are in custody, and detectives from the CPD Area Four Homicide Unit are leading the investigation. Police have not released information on a possible motive.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about this homicide to contact Chicago Police or submit an anonymous tip at CPDTip.com.