Authorities in Orange County said some 50 shots were fired outside a mall in Newport Beach, Calif., during the busy Christmas shopping season Saturday, a day after a mass shooting in Connecticut had the nation in mourning and again debating gun control.
A 42-year-old man was in custody after the sound of gunshots at Fashion Island caused near-pandemonium, according to shoppers. No one was injured, authorities said.
Newport Beach police said the gunman fired some 50 rounds into the air and at the ground in a parking lot outside the Macy's at the upscale mall at about 4:30 p.m. The shopping center was placed on lockdown.
As mall patrons scrambled into hiding places and shop employees rushed to close doors, officers on bike patrol arrested 42-year-old Marcos Sarinana Gurrola of Garden Grove without incident.
"According to witness statements, we had a male who was shooting a weapon into the air and also at the ground, standing by a vehicle,'' police spokeswoman Kathy Lowe said. "This was an isolated incident. At no time was he observed pointing the weapon at anyone."
Gurrola was being held on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon.
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TXT 24
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