KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. (WTXF) - Upper Merion Police shot a man wanted for a robbery that took place at the mall Saturday, October 28. The parking lot of the King of Prussia Mall turned into a crime scene October 29, ending in gunfire.
The suspect, believed to be in his twenties, was shot by police Sunday afternoon, Oct. 29, after what police describe as the suspect's involvement in a two state crime spree over the last few days of October.
It was inside the parking garage of the King of Prussia Mall where the man was shot late Sunday afternoon.
Police say it's the same spot where, 24 hours earlier, the same man robbed a female shopper at gunpoint, jumping into the back of her car, put a gun to her head and stole her purse. His getaway vehicle, a stolen Kia, captured on camera as he fled.
Within the past couple of days, the suspect was also allegedly involved in two other armed robberies, a carjacking and kidnapping of an 87-year-old man in New Castle County, Delaware.
"In three previous robberies, the suspect was known to be armed with a nine mm handgun, and had previously fired a shot at one fleeing victim," said Upper Merion Township Police Chief Thomas Nolan.
Acting on a tip, police found the car and the man back at the same King of Prussia Mall parking deck Sunday afternoon and tried to confront him.
"He fled from the officers, and he was driving erratically through the crowded parking garage. He intentionally rammed two Upper Merion Township Police that were on foot trying to take him into custody," Chief Nolan explained.
Officers fired and struck him at least once.
A mall store employee knew something was going on.
"We had seen earlier in the day, a swarm of cops in the mall. They all came racing by. But, we didn't know what it was regarding. I was kind of surprised they didn't go into lockdown. There was no announcement made or anything," said King of Prussia Mall employee Amanda Giordano.
The mall did not go into lockdown, as police rushed the man to the hospital. And, no one else was hurt. News of the shooting here is shocking, to some.
"You never feel any kind of fear coming here, walking around here's no concern at all. So when we heard that, actually my husband, it came through his phone, we were a little startled about it," said shopper Sandy Cunius.
The suspect was taken to Paoli Hospital, his condition unknown. Police are still trying to positively identify him and figure out a motive.