The shooting was reported shortly before 6:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Mall of Victor Valley. The shooting prompted several shops to be locked, and officials were called to the scene as lawmakers searched the mall for the gunman. The girl was taking pictures with the Easter bunny when she was hit by fire. He was airlifted to Loma Linda University Medical Center, where he was in stable condition. This is the 9-year-old girl, who was injured yesterday when a shop owner who was chasing alleged thieves opened fire inside a Victorville mall. This store owner is now facing charges of attempted murder. @CBSLA pic.twitter.com/ZtcjLUmWRK – Tina Patel (@tina_patel) April 13, 2022 According to San Bernardino County Sheriff’s officials, 20-year-old Marqel Cockrell – the co-owner of a shoe store called Sole Addicts – has been identified as the perpetrator. Investigators say Cockrell, who lives in Adelanto, chased two thieves out of the store and fired several shots at them. The shootings lost the thieves and instead hit the girl. The girl and her family hid in a store shortly after the shooting and an employee who was with them said she was remarkably calm. She remains hospitalized at Loma Linda Medical Center. The perpetrator fled the scene, but Cockrell was found around 9pm on a Nevada highway patrol and taken into custody. Cockrell is being held in Clark County Jail in Nevada on a $ 1 million extradition warrant for attempted murder. (credit: LVMPD) The mall reopened on Wednesday, but the shots were still fresh in the minds of shoppers and employees. Buyer Terry Lattimore said he has lived in the area for a long time and has never seen as many problems as he does now. “It never was like that. We were here for 10 years, we never had a problem, and I heard, I think, a few weeks ago, something happened in there, to come back last night, that’s happening,” he said. “It ‘s horrible. My heart aches for the little boy.” Anyone with information about the shooting or search can contact the Victorville Police Department at (760) 241-2911.
