Holiday shopping at Cumberland Mall in Atlanta, Georgia turned into a chaotic scene when gunfire rang out around 1:30 Saturday afternoon.
Police say one person was shot after a verbal altercation in the food court area.
The suspect fled the scene.
Investigators determined it was an isolated incident but, understandably, the sound of gunfire sent hundreds of scared shoppers scrambling, as people ran for doors and hid in stores and dressing rooms.
Authorities say several pregnant women had panic attacks and asked for medical assistance to check on their babies.
Ashley Jones, Deaf woman from Atlanta was in the mall at the time of the shooting.
I got a chance to interview her and she shared the terrifying scene from her perspective and how her hearing daughter possibly saved her life.
First let’s go back a little. Why were you at come the mall?
I was picking up my daughter to go to the Cheesecake Factory and then go shopping and then go to DSW shoe warehouse.
I was having a good time. Then something happened.
My daughter is hearing.
I was looking around not really paying attention. I didn’t hear anything.
But my daughter started slapping me on the arm saying there is an emergency.
I’m all confused and was like “What’s wrong.”
She said “Get out! Someone is shooting!”
When I looked around I freaked out because people were running and screaming and falling down.
I tried to get my daughter to get out, escape to a back room.
My daughter was crying and scared. But I said “It’s gonna be all right.”
This is the first time I’ve experienced this before so I didn’t know what was happening.
That’s my favorite mall. I go there all the time.
But I heard something happened in food court.
And police said it was not an active shooter situation which was a relief.
But wow!
It was scary but I hope everybody is safe and okay.
Yes. You are a mother and your daughter…How old is she?
She’s eleven years old.
Eleven years old? Wow that’s young.
It had to be pretty frightening for the two of you to go through that.
Yes. I’m thankful my daughter saved my life. I had no idea what was happening. I would save her life first to protect my daughter. But as I was driving I imagined what would’ve happened if my daughter wasn’t there. What would’ve happened to me? I would never know what was happening.
The Closed Caption version of this video can be found here: https://sign1news.com/2019/12/15/sign1news-12-15-19/
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