By The Associated Press
HOOVER, Ala. (AP) — Alabama’s largest shopping mall and the city of Hoover say they are tightening security measures following a shooting that killed a child and injured three others.
WIAT-TV reported that operators of the Riverchase Galleria and municipal officials said a new plan includes an increased police presence at the mall and dogs that are trained to sniff out the smell of explosives and firearms.
Brookwood Properties, which owns, the mall, has new equipment to improve communication with city police, and it has added additional video cameras in common areas.
“This plan focuses on many aspects of mall operations,” Mayor Frank Brocato said in a statement. “There are several measures that we have already implemented, and others that are being added as soon as possible.”
Royta Giles Jr., 8, was killed when his family was caught in the crossfire between gunmen inside the mall on July 3. Three people are charged in the shooting, which followed the police killing of a man inside the mall on Thanksgiving night in 2018.
Some people aren’t ready to go back to the mall despite the changes. Kaytee Pearson told WBMA-TV she was there when shots rang out earlier this month.
“And I haven’t been back in the mall since then. I’ve driven around, just to see how things were going …. I’m not sure I’ll go back to the mall,” said Pearson.