2 Men Shot During Attempted Robbery At Westfield Brandon Mall

BRANDON, FL — Hillsborough County sheriff's detectives are looking for a second person involved in a shooting that occurred during a robbery outside a Brandon Westfield Mall Monday afternoon.

Around 2:15 p.m., deputies responded to Westfield Brandon at 459 Brandon Town Center Drive,after getting several calls about shots fired. Upon arrival, deputies located a man outside the east side of Dillard's with a gunshot wound to one of his legs. He was taken to Tampa General Hospital in stable condition.

The injured man told deputies he parked his vehicle outside the Dillard's, and went into the Westfield Brandon mall to visit a jewelry store. On the way back to his car, he said two men approached him and pointed a gun at him. While one man held the gun, the second attempted to take a gold chain valued at tens of thousands of dollars off the victim.

Deputies said there was a struggle and the injured man was able to hold on to his chain. As the robbers took off running, one shot back at man, striking him in the leg. The injured man was able to retrieve a gun from his vehicle, and shot at the fleeing robbers, deputies said.

Later in the afternoon, a man was dropped off at AdventHealth at 3100 E Fletcher Ave. in Tampa with a gunshot wound to the stomach. Deputies believe he is one of the men involved in the robbery at the Brandon mall.

"The violence seen this afternoon in such a public place is deplorable," said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "We believe this to be a targeted attack with the intent of robbing the victim, and are grateful no one else was hurt in the area."

The Westfield Brandon Mall was never placed on lockdown, and this was not an active shooter situation, Chronister said. Detectives are working to determine if the victim knew his attackers.

Anyone with information on the identity or whereabouts of the second robber is urged to call the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office at 813-247-8200.