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New details released in Park Plaza mall shooting

7:38 PM, Dec 28, 2011   |    comments
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LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) -- Police have released more information about Tuesday's shooting at Park Plaza Mall.

Officer Christopher Johannes was working off duty at Park Plaza Mall and was called to assist mall security.

The security officers were approached by a woman who says that three men attempted to get her 17-year-old daughter into their car, parked in the mall garage.

Officers approached the car. And according to the police report, the driver noticed the officers and began to back up at a high rate of speed towards security officers and other subjects in the lot.

Officer Johannes yelled for the driver to stop. The driver did not.  The officer "fired several shots at the passenger side of the vehicle, striking the driver and front seat passenger."

The driver, identified as Joseph Williams, lost control and struck the elevator shaft of the building.

According to the report, Williams exited the vehicle and fled southbound on foot through the lot. He was apprehended after a brief pursuit.

Two other subjects, identified as Keithen Pettus and Johnnie Campbell, fled the car and were taken into custody by mall security.

Officials with the Park Plaza Mall issued the following statement:

"The safety of our shoppers and tenants is always our top priority. We are working hand in hand with the Little Rock Police Department in their investigation and will continue to do so."

Sgt. Cassandra Davis of the Little Rock Police Department said the case is not considered an attempted abduction.

"No one actually did any physical attempt to take her into the car. What they did was they had some kind of communication to her and from that she perceived, or there was an indication of, if you wanted to get inside the car," Sgt. Davis said.

According to the report, officers found a white powder substance and a large sum of cash on the driver, Joseph Williams.

Williams remains at a Little Rock hospital. In the report, his condition is listed in "critical but stable condition."

The other suspect injured in the shooting, Keithen Pettus has been released from the hospital.

No charges have been filed in this case.