COLUMBUS – Police are searching for two men they say exchanged gunshots inside Polaris Fashion Place Wednesday, sending shoppers and store employees scrambling for cover and prompting an evacuation.
Two officers working special duty in Polaris Fashion Place, 1500 Polaris Parkway, heard gunshots at 12:27 p.m. and many patrons also reported the gunfire, according to Det. Adam Federer of the Felony Assault Unit.
Witness statements and security video footage indicated that an unknown male fired multiple gunshots at another unknown male inside the Carter’s children’s apparel store, Federer said.
The man who was targeted by the initial burst of gunfire exited the store and Federer says he fired multiple gunshots back at the man who had just fired at him.
The mall, which was populated by a “substantial amount” of customers as well as store employees at the time, Columbus police Sgt. James Fuqua told reporters and WBNS 10-TV reported that some shoppers and employees hid and posted updates on social media during the investigation.
No injuries were reported and a handgun was recovered from the parking lot.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Det. Federer at 614-645-4141 or Crimes Stoppers at 614-461-8477.