BRANDON, FL — More than 100 Hillsborough County sheriff's deputies responded to reports of shots fired at the Brandon Exchange on Wednesday evening after an altercation between two groups of people escalated into gunfire, authorities said.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office received its first 911 call at 5:16 p.m., followed by five additional calls reporting a possible shooter near the Verizon store, the agency said in a news release.
The first deputy arrived at the mall minutes later, at 5:18 p.m. Deputies, including members of the agency's K-9 Unit, Drone Response Team and Aviation Unit, worked to secure the scene and search businesses throughout the mall.
A preliminary investigation found that an altercation between two groups preceded the gunfire, the sheriff's office said. Surveillance footage showed the individuals leaving the mall as deputies arrived.
While no one was shot during the shootout, a store window was shattered, and an employee inside the business sustained a minor cut, HCSO said.
"The response to this incident shows the strength and commitment of our team," Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement. "This was an isolated incident between two groups, and our detectives will remain vigilant until those responsible are identified and arrested."
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