Shots Fired At Westfield Siesta Key Mall On Friday: Police

SARASOTA, FL — A 53-year-old Sarasota woman was arrested after she fired gunshots in the parking lot of the Westfield Siesta Key mall parking lot on Friday night, the Sarasota Police Department said in a news release.

Sarah Charles was charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and two counts of carrying a concealed weapon.

Police arrived at the scene of the shooting — the parking lot in front of Connor’s Steak and Seafood — at about 10 p.m. on Friday. Dispatchers received multiple calls from people who heard gunshots in the parking lot, police said.

The officers arrived to find a loud argument between a group of people, the news release said. Two people in the group — Charles’ ex-husband and another woman — told police they were walking to their car when they saw her in the parking lot.

According to the police report, Charles yelled at the woman, “B****, I’m going to shoot you.” She dumped the contents of her purse onto the trunk of a white BMW nearby and picked up a handgun that fell from the bag.

Charles fired two shots at the woman from about 7 feet away but missed, the police report said. Charles then walked toward the victim, still holding the gun out and waved it in her face. The woman slapped Charles’ arm away and called 9-1-1.

While she was on the phone with police dispatchers, Charles allegedly shot once at her ex-husband, but missed. There were no injuries.

Officers found two .38 caliber shell casings in the parking lot and a Ruger LCP 380 handgun inside a purse belonging to Charles. They also found that the firearm was loaded with a round in the chamber. The ammunition in the magazine was the same caliber of ammunition that was found in the parking lot, police said.

Police also noted that Charles was wearing a blonde wig, a black-and-gold dress and no shoes at the time of her arrest.

She was taken to Sarasota County Jail, where she is being held on a $205,500 bond.