Albert J Shell Jr: Prosecutors seek death penalty for Florida man accused of opening fire in Paddock Mall
OCALA, FLORIDA: Prosecutors in Ocala, Florida will ask for capital punishment for a 39-year-old man who allegedly opened fire in a busy mall of Paddock full of shoppers one day before Christmas Eve, as per Chronicle Online. The incident fatally shot a 40-year-old man and seriously wounded a woman.
Previously, Ocala police identified Albert J Shell Jr, 39, as the suspected perpetrator in the shooting of David Nathaniel Barron, 40, at Paddock Mall on Saturday, December 23, in what they believe was a targeted attack, as per the New York Post.
What is Shell accused of?
On Friday, February 2, the Fifth Judicial Circuit Office of the State Attorney officially filed a notice of intent to pursue the death penalty against Albert J Shell Jr.
Authorities declared last week that Shell Jr was indicted by a grand jury on one count of first-degree murder with a firearm in the December 2023 killing of David Nathaniel Brown.
In addition, Shell is charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a handgun and two counts of attempting second-degree murder with a firearm.
As per a news release from the state attorney’s office, prosecutors selected the punishment for Shell based on "the severity of the crime and its impact on the community."
"The decision is reflective of the gravity of the alleged offenses and the impact on the victims and their families,” State Attorney Bill Gladson said in the release.
It added, “The State Attorney’s Office acknowledges the sensitivity of this matter and the impact it has on the community. Our commitment to ensuring justice and holding criminals accountable for their actions remains unwavering.”
What happened at the mall?
Ocala police responded to 911 calls reporting an active shooter inside the mall. Upon arrival, they determined that while there was no active shooter, a shooting had taken place.
Authorities discovered one man dead and a woman with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. Unfortunately, the shooter managed to escape.
A witness informed the police that he was waiting for his order at Auntie Annie's Pretzels when he heard multiple loud "pops." Initially, he thought they were balloons popping, as per an affidavit obtained by Law and Crime.
Following the sounds, he observed a Black man wearing black attire and a red baseball cap sprinting towards the mall's exit. Two off-duty police officers, armed, pursued him in response.
According to investigators, surveillance footage depicted Shell approaching Barron outside a Chik-Fil-A. In a matter of minutes, Barron is purportedly seen punching Shell, then turning and fleeing.
On January 8, 2024, US Marshals, Marion County Sheriff deputies, and the Ocala Police Department arrested Shell.
Documents unveil Shell's extensive history of arrests, the latest occurring in July. He faces charges for assaulting his girlfriend in the presence of her 6-year-old son, alleging it was due to his belief that she was engaged in an extramarital affair.
According to a probable cause arrest affidavit reviewed by Law&Crime, Shell reportedly seized her hair and escorted her to the bathroom, slamming her head onto the tile. It is further alleged that he choked her during the incident.
