A violent confrontation inside Wiregrass Commons Mall in Dothan, Alabama, on Sunday afternoon has been linked to a recent homicide in Pike County, according to authorities.
Law enforcement officials revealed that the man injured in the mall shooting is the prime suspect in the murder of 23-year-old Bobby Lee David Mircle Lucas, who was fatally shot during an unregulated gathering northeast of Troy last week.
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Investigators believe Sunday’s shooting may have been an act of retaliation connected to Lucas’s death. Multiple county agencies are now coordinating efforts to piece together evidence from both incidents.
Dothan Police Lieutenant Scott Owens said the mall altercation stemmed from an ongoing feud between individuals involved in prior disputes. “After several rounds were fired in both directions inside Wiregrass Commons, one person was struck with gunfire,” Owens confirmed. He added that several people were armed, but no immediate arrests were made.
The injured man, who had been wanted in connection with Lucas’s killing, suffered a head wound during the exchange. His current condition has not yet been released. Authorities had previously issued a warrant for his arrest following the Pike County homicide.
The gunfire sparked chaos and panic inside the mall as shoppers and employees scrambled for safety, many locking themselves inside stores until officers secured the area.
The earlier Pike County shooting, which took place during a large gathering of around 300 people, has already drawn scrutiny from law enforcement. Sheriff Russell Thomas has since called for tighter regulations on unlicensed and unmonitored event venues, citing growing concerns over public safety.
Both cases remain under active investigation as authorities work to determine how the two violent incidents are connected.