Details emerge about deadly Paddock Mall shooting

The Paddock Mall is closed on Christmas Eve following a shooting that occurred Saturday [Jennifer Murty/Ocala Gazette] 2023.

Police have identified the male victim who died in a shooting at the Paddock Mall in Ocala on Saturday as 40-year-old David Nathaniel Barron.

The shooting occurred at 3:39 p.m. on Saturday, leaving one person dead and another injured. The other victim, a woman, was shot in the leg and has been transported to the hospital and is being treated for her injuries.

Several other people sustained injuries while attempting to run from the shooter or escape the building, said OPD Chief Mike Balken in a press conference Saturday.

OPD has also released photos of a person of interest who they believe to be involved in the shooting. They have released a photo of a Black man, wearing a black hoodie, black pants, red hat and a green neck gaiter mask over his face.

As of Sunday, Christmas Eve, the mall is closed and said to reopen on Dec. 26. Cleanup crews were seen inside the mall on Sunday morning.

“Gazette” owner and publisher Jennifer Hunt Murty was present at the time of the shooting and witnessed the events unfold.

“I was volunteering at the wrapping station that raises money for the domestic violence shelter, and the gunman was probably about 10 feet away,” Murty said. “We didn’t really have any protection other than tables with linens over them, but we went to the floor, and everybody else was running, so we were very close to the shooting as it occurred, and had very little protection to hide.”

At 3:39 p.m., Murty, while on the ground 10 feet from the shooter, texted OPD Chief Michael Balken that there was an active shooter. At 3:40 she texted “come now.” At 3:41 p.m., she texted “in front of Macy’s.” Not being able to take a call, she also texted, “active, can’t talk.” By 3:42 p.m., bystanders started to assist one man shot in front of Starbucks, and she texted the locations of where victims were at. By 3:47 p.m., one police officer had arrived. By 3:48 p.m., paramedics and more law enforcement arrived at the scene.

People work to clean up Paddock Mall on Christmas Eve, the day after a deadly shooting [Jennifer Murty/Ocala Gazette] 2023.

If anyone recognizes the person of interest, call Detective Boyer at (352)369-7000 or submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers at (352)368-7867 or at OcalaCrimeStoppers.com