In a shocking event that unfolded at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa on Sunday night, a man was shot during an attempted robbery near the Bloomingdale’s parking lot. The incident, which took place around 8:40 p.m., involved a suspect approaching the victim, who had parked his Lamborghini SUV, demanding valuables. As tensions escalated, the suspect opened fire, striking the victim in the leg.
Witnesses described the chaos that ensued, with one bystander recounting the sound of gunfire and the sight of people gathered around the victim after the shooting. "You just hear a gunshot, and we see all these people... It looked like they were arguing, and then suddenly the guy just fell to the floor," the witness said.
Authorities were quick to respond, though the suspect had fled the scene before their arrival. The victim was rushed to the hospital and is expected to recover. While the Costa Mesa Police Department reassured the public that this appeared to be an isolated incident, the shooter remains at large, and no arrests have been made at this time.
The attempted robbery adds to a string of alarming incidents at high-end shopping destinations in the region. Just last month, gunshots were fired during another robbery at Fashion Island in Newport Beach, though no one was injured. In July, a tragic event at the same shopping center claimed the life of a 69-year-old woman from New Zealand during yet another robbery attempt.
South Coast Plaza has expressed its gratitude to the Costa Mesa Police Department for its swift response and wished the victim a full recovery. However, these violent incidents continue to raise concerns about safety at luxury shopping centers, even as law enforcement works to investigate and prevent future occurrences.
While this latest incident may be isolated, it underscores the vulnerability of even the most upscale locations to criminal activity, leaving many to reconsider their safety in everyday environments.
Source: ABC 7
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