CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said the Labor Day shooting outside Northlake Mall started as an argument between two groups of people.
The argument started inside the mall and then spilled outside, police said.
That’s when, around 3 p.m., police said Antonio Gaines started shooting.
Shoppers at the mall were told to stay inside as police investigated. No one was hurt.
Police said witness accounts and mall security video helped lead them to Gaines.
“Initially what we had was several good citizen witness that were at the mall, plus mall security that covers all the common areas in the mall,” CMPD Capt. Ryan Butler said.
Gaines was arrested Thursday and now faces a couple of charges, including assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill. He was also on probation for a previous crime.
“During the arrest, a firearm was located in the immediate location to Mr. Gaines, and he was charged with an additional count,” Butler said.
Channel 9 obtained a police report Friday that said Gaines was shot a week ago at a north Charlotte apartment complex off of North Tryon Street.
There were 16 others, including three children were inside units hit.
Police did not say if that crime was connected to the Northlake Mall incident.
Channel 9 has reported on Gaines since he was 17 years old.
In 2007, he was arrested for breaking his curfew awaiting sentencing for an armed robbery charge.
Gaines was on probation when he police said he shot the firearm at Northlake Mall.
Cox Media Group
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