City leaders react to Northlake mall shooting

Shooting in Northlake Mall Charlotte North Carolina Christmas Eve 2015

CHARLOTTE, N.C.

We saw the scared looks on shopper"s faces as they ran out of the mall escaping the gunshots at Northlake mall in Charlotte Thursday.

That same shock is reaching city leaders, wondering how the mall became so vulnerable today to violence.

Images of people running and ducking for cover are the last images people expected to see at Northlake mall on Christmas Eve....

While officers staged a command center to investigate a shooting inside a shoe store.

It"s a tragedy that this would happen on Christmas Eve. Such a holy and blessed time of the year. But that"s the way of our country and things right now, Councilman Al Austin said.

Austin told channel 9 by phone mall management told him last month security was ready for the Christmas shopping season.

Northlake mall has had its share of issues with crime and violence.

Back in November 2014 bullets were sprayed into several cars during a shooting near the mall.

Then in March a fight at Northlake. We reported a fight between teens that forced mall security to step in.

We"ve also covered several break-ins and robberies at the mall. In July when three women assaulted and robbed workers at "downtown Locker Room" in the middle of the day.

There were several other hired officers working the mall, watching over the sea of shoppers.

Police said it was an off-duty officer who shot and killed the gunman.

Mayor Jennifer Roberts said it all just shows the pressure on city leaders to ensure resources to make places safer.

I think we should all be shocked and concerned when there is gun violence in our community. I think we need to continue to work to make sure our community is safe, Roberts said.

Next month city leaders begin budget talks that will include discussing putting more money toward public safety.

Channel 9 reached out Northlake mall for comment about the shooting Christmas Eve and have not heard back.

Source: http://www.wsoctv.com/news/news/local/city-leaders-react-northlake-mall-shooting/nprRp/