Man shot by police officers inside Concord Mills dies days later, authorities say
A man who was shot by police after firing at officers inside Concord Mills mall nearly a week ago has died, according to authorities.
Concord Police Chief Gary Gacek said Dominic Jeter, 23, was taken to a hospital in critical condition, but died from his injuries a few days later.
Officers initially responded to the mall Wednesday afternoon for reports of three people stealing a credit card. When officers approached, the suspects ran back into the mall. During a chase through Concord Mills, authorities said Jeter fired several shots at the officers. Police returned fire, hitting Jeter.
No officers were hurt during the shooting, authorities said.
The two other suspects, Wuanell Hernandez, 21, of Charlotte, and Christian Tyson, 21, of Kannapolis, were arrested at the mall and taken to the Cabarrus County Jail.
According to Gacek, Jeter had allegedly stole a gun matching the one at the scene from an woman he knew the day before. Authorities said Jeter was a convicted felon and was currently on probation for a firearm possession conviction at the time of the Concord Mills incident.
The officers involved in the shooting were identified as Officers Jeremy Howarth and Maria Westphal. Officials said Westphal has been with the department for two years, and Howarth has been with the department for two months.
Per the department’s policy, both officers were placed on administrative duty while the State Bureau of Investigation conducts an independent investigation.
Per the department’s policy, both officers were placed on administrative duty while the State Bureau of Investigation conducts an independent investigation.
911 calls released in officer-involved shooting at Concord Mills
Newly released 911 calls reveal the frantic moments during the deadly shooting at Concord Mills Wednesday.
The recordings include the initial call from the theft victim as well as additional calls from bystanders in the mall who heard the shots.
>> Listen to the the full 911 calls below. Viewer discretion is advised.
‘Really scary’: Concord Mills mall employees recall chaos after officer-involved shooting
A day of work and leisure turned to fear for people inside the Concord Mills mall on Aug. 31.
A LensCrafters employee was one of the people who called 911 on that day.
“I work at LensCrafters, and I just heard several shots ring out and people went running. I heard shots. It was pop pop pop pop pop pop,” the recording said.
Callers described the chaos to dispatchers, admitting they were hiding in retail stockrooms throughout the mall, worried about what was on the other side of the doors.
Shawn Severt was working outside the mall when he heard the commotion.
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“We heard a bunch of sirens. We kept looking outside, heard the helicopter, walked outside and heard there was a shooting that’s been happening and to stay tight,” Severt said.
Severt said he won’t let the chaos of that day impact his shopping experience.
“People who are going to be crazy are going to be crazy, whether it’s a gun, knife, fist,” he said.
Other shoppers like Jada Evans say they plan to take extra precautions on their next trip.
“That’s really scary. More protection, pepper spray maybe, anything to keep me more protected,” she said.
(WATCH BELOW: Concord Mills reopens; police ID 2 suspects after officer-involved shooting inside mall)
