American Dream Shooting Victim Tried To Play Betting Game With Suspect: Police

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ — The man shot inside American Dream megamall earlier this month had offered the suspect a chance to play a game for money inside the mall's parking garage, police said.

The victim, a 37-year-old New York man, has been released from the hospital. Patch is not releasing his name.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, the victim approached suspect Anwar Stuart and another man in a parking deck. The victim did not know them, police said.

The victim asked Stuart and an accomplice to play a sleight of hand betting game, police said. He said he had $6,000 in cash and used some of it to bet on the game.

Police said Stuart "became angry" and tried to rob the other man.

"(The victim) ended the game and returned into the mall due to their behavior," police said.

Read more: American Dream Shooting Suspect Nabbed: NJ State Police

Police said Stuart and a yet-unnamed accomplice moved their vehicle, a silver Honda sedan, closer to the exit. They went into the mall and found the victim on Level 2, near Bath and Body Works.

"They approach (the victim) and Shooting Suspect engages (him)" police said. "He stated in effect to (the victim) "run up", and as (the victim) approached, Shooting Suspect fired multiple rounds at close range towards (the victim) from a handgun that was inside his jacket pocket, striking(the victim) multiple times. Shooting Suspect and Shooting Accomplice subsequently fled in the Suspect Vehicle."

Stuart was arrested in New York and charged with attempted murder, attempted robbery, conspiracy, unlawful possession of a weapon, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. He is being lodged at Rikers Island Jail pending extradition to the Garden State.

On Monday, detectives from the New Jersey State Police Troop B Criminal Investigation Office, along with members of State Police Fugitive Unit, United States Marshal Service New York/ New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force, and New York Police Department arrested Stuart at his Brooklyn residence. He was wearing the same jacket as the day of the shooting, police said.

The shooting on April 7 inside the 3-million-square-foot mall terrified shoppers and employees, who feared they were in an active shooter situation.The shooting, which occurred around 5:50 p.m., prompted a lockdown of the mega mall. Videos posted to Twitter showed American Dream patrons running in the mall.

"My coworker is in our back room hiding with 2 girls at the American Dream mall," one Twitter user wrote at the time of the incident. "Potential shooting?"

Another man said he was "holed up" inside the blacklight mini-golf. Some people got out, including a man who said he works at the ice rink.
"My mind was running a mile a minute," he wrote. "I hope everybody is safe. Praying for the ones who got hurt."