VALLEY STREAM, N.Y. (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – A shoplifter opened fire as he struggled with a security guard at the Green Acres Mall on Monday and then fled the mall without any pants on, Nassau County Police said as the search for the suspect continued Tuesday.
No one was injured in the shooting, but it put the giant shopping center in Valley Stream on lockdown as police investigated. Schools in the area were told to lock their doors.
It all started around 11:15 a.m. at Clique Apparel, a clothing store on the second floor of the mall.
Police said the 20-something-year-old suspect was shoplifting at Clique but was caught by a security guard as he tried to leave with stolen clothing. That led to a physical confrontation that spilled into the common area of the mall.
During the struggle, the suspect brandished a gun and fired one shot, which struck the floor, Nassau Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said at a news conference Monday.
"He was putting on layers of clothing, he was confronted by the security personnel," Ryder said. "When he was confronted, he started to struggle with him and said, 'I've got a gun.' He pulled his gun out. When they were struggling with the gun, a round went off."
The suspect bolted through the mall, stripping off the stolen clothing down to his boxer shorts.
"Somewhere along that chase, he shed all those clothes, including the gray sweatpants, and he ran out with a red shirt, boxer shorts and one sneaker," Ryder said.
He eventually made it to the parking lot, where he jumped into a red SUV with no rear license plate and fled the area. Despite having no pants, police said he managed to hold onto the gun.
Anyone with information is asked to call Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS or call 911.