PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. – Two men who were trying to rob a jewelry store were shot by a store employee Friday afternoon at the Pembroke Lakes Mall, police say.
According to Pembroke Pines police, the two men went into Elite Fine Jewelry at 2:14 p.m., and one smashed glass display cases while the other began grabbing items.
A store employee pulled out a concealed firearm and shot both of the suspects, detectives say. The men were taken to a nearby hospital.
Police have not identified them, nor released an update on their condition.
The investigation is ongoing.
Sky 10 was overhead as the two men were taken into rescue vehicles outside the Dillard’s store on the north side of the mall, at 11945 Pines Boulevard.
Police have urged residents to stay clear of the area.
Nobody else was hurt in the shooting, but it brought fear and commotion to the mall.
A woman working at another nearby store told Local 10 News that people took off running when they heard the shots.
“All of a sudden we just heard a loud bang ... it sounded like the roof fell,” said Hannah Francis, who works at the Shoe Show. ”And then all of a sudden we heard like four shots and everybody just started running.
“It’s honestly traumatizing,” she added. “Even though you didn’t see anything, just hearing it and knowing that somebody got hurt, regardless of whatever happened, it’s just scary.”
Pablo Perez, who was also in the mall, said he heard either four or five shots and then saw people running and screaming.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact the Pembroke Pines Police Department at 954-431-2200, email tips@ppines.com, or call Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477.
See raw footage from Sky10 over the scene earlier this afternoon: