OCALA, Fla. — The man accused of "targeting" and killing a man and injuring a woman during a shooting at a Central Florida shopping mall days before Christmas has been arrested, Ocala Police said.
In a video posted on social media Monday morning, officers said they "successfully apprehended" 49-year-old Albert Shell, Jr. Authorities say Shell is the murder suspect responsible for the Dec. 23 shooting at the Paddock Mall in Ocala.
At a press conference, Ocala Police Chief Mike Balken said investigators received dozens of tips which ultimately helped them track Shell to a house 20 miles southwest of Ocala.
The video shared on social media shows body camera video of Shell's arrest. According to Balken, officers surrounded the house and negotiated with Shell for 2 hours before he came out. In the footage, Shell was instructed to move toward police and get on his knees before officers put him in handcuffs.
The officer can be heard thanking Shell for coming out of the residence as he is being arrested. The video ends with Shell climbing into the back of the police cruiser.
Shell insists in the video that he is innocent, and while Balken declined to comment on Shell's statements, he claimed that Shell "made some incriminating statements" while in custody.
Shell is accused of killing a man by shooting him multiple times in a common area at the Paddock Mall and shooting a woman in the leg. The woman was treated at a hospital and is expected to recover. He faces first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder charges.
Balken declined to comment on the alleged motive behind the shooting, but he did say that the man and Shell had a "prior relationship" and that the department had no reason to believe the killing was anything other than a "beef" between the two. Balken also said that the woman was an innocent bystander.
A $20,000 reward was offered for Shell's arrest, a reward that Balken said he fully expected to be paid out.
Ocala Police had previously released mall security camera photos of the suspect and a statement requesting that a person who took the suspect’s hat from the crime scene turn it over to investigators or be charged with evidence tampering.
The mall’s corporate owner, WPG, said in a statement that they were working with the OPD in their investigation of the shooting.
"We are deeply saddened by this tragedy. Our thoughts are with all those involved,” the statement said. “The safety of our guests, retailers and employees is our top priority.”
In a video statement, Ocala mayor Ben Marciano said the communities' thoughts and prayers were with the shooting victims and their families.
"We extend our deepest sympathies to those who are affected by this terrible act of violence," Marciano said.
According to Balken, Ocala Police's next step is to bring anyone who helped Shell to justice.
The Associated Press and 10 Tampa Bay's Andrew Polino contributed to this report.