CHARLOTTE, N.C. — City leaders are pushing for tighter security for the growing area in north Charlotte following two shootings in two months at Northlake Mall.
Police are still investigating the shooting that happened outside of the mall Monday. No one was hurt, but city leaders said they are still taking steps to protect the area and its reputation.
Jen Lawton moved to the Northlake area for the housing prices, schools and the added perk of great shopping.
"It's a big mall, lots of brand name stores," she said.
But she's concerned that for the second time within a year police have surrounded the mall because of a shooting.
"Yeah. Going to watch that area a little more," Lawton said.
On Monday, someone fired shots outside of the mall and employees rushed customers to safety. The scene triggered memories of Christmas Eve when a shooting inside ended with an officer shooting and killing an armed man.
Both incidents have some shoppers in the area thinking more about safety, not just shopping.
Since Christmas Eve, Charlotte City council member Al Austin said police have added patrols around the mall.
"Police have been working quite a bit in the area and with the mall manager to make sure the area is safe as possible," Austin said.
That is critical for the shopping center, a major attraction in a booming area, he said.
"Northlake Mall is one of my assets in District 2, that has been a catalyst for growth," Austin said.
Austin said the city approved 600 new apartments within the last year and the mall is planning to expand. He is hoping the changes and added security will overshadow any lingering concerns about crime.
He said he has talked to police and mall management since the shooting on Monday and they're working to figure out if they could have done anything differently to prevent it. He said they'll regroup to create new strategies based on what they find.
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