COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Police in Ohio are investigating
a shooting inside a mall in the state’s capital city.
The shooting Monday afternoon was the second at Polaris Fashion Place on the north side of Columbus in two weeks.
Police said multiple shots were fired on the first floor of the mall around 3:20 p.m. Monday after two groups got into an argument. Police said those involved "appear to be juveniles."
Arshad Jamir Lawson, 20, of Andrus Avenue on the East Side, is charged with felonious assault and is being held at the
Franklin County jail. Franklin County Common Pleas Court records show Lawson has a pending case for charges of aggravated robbery, robbery, felonious assault, carrying concealed weapons and improper handling of a firearm from 2019. Court records indicate Lawson was supposed to appear for a hearing in January 2020 and did not show up, resulting in a capias warrant being issued for his arrest.
Although police previously said no one was struck, one bullet grazed a male victim in his arm, but did not penetrate his skin, according to the complaint. In a prepared news release confirming Lawson's arrest, Columbus police indicated there were at least two intended victims — a 17-year-old male and an unidentified male.
This was the second time in less than two weeks that shots were fired inside the mall. The two Columbus-area men suspected of
exchanging gunfire on March 3 inside the Polaris Fashion Place have been arrested by U.S. Marshals in Georgia.
Anthony Deshawn Truss Jr., 21, and Levon Sommerville, 25, were both taken into custody this month in Georgia cities within 40 miles of each other. The U.S. Marshals Service announced the men's arrest 40 days after the shooting at
the Delaware County mall.
The shootout occurred after the two got into an argument inside the Carter's/Osh Kosh B'Gosh store around 12:30 p.m. March 3, Columbus police have said. Somerville is suspected of firing inside the store at Truss at close range before departing. Truss then followed Sommerville out into the mall and fired at Sommerville as he walked away, police said.
No one was struck by gunfire or otherwise injured in the shooting.
Following the shooting, Columbus police indicated that they knew the identities of the gunmen and advised that they turn themselves in. But police soon asked the public's help in
identifying the suspects with the release of surveillance images of the shooting.