UPDATE: Police searching for man who fired gun at Galleria Mall

BY ERIKA NORTON
MIDDLETOWN — Police are continuing to search for a man who fired a gun at the Galleria at Crystal Run on a busy holiday shopping weekend.
Two people were injured after the man shot his gun into the floor on Sunday afternoon, according to Town of Wallkill police, prompting a mall lockdown and evacuation.
Town of Wallkill Chief of Police Robert Hertman said at a news conference Sunday that police received a call at 3:07 p.m. reporting shots fired at the Galleria, according to published video of the conference.
Hertman said a male in a dark hooded-sweatshirt and gray pants discharged one round from a handgun into the floor on the second level of the mall in front of the American Eagle store.
The two victims suffered “minor wounds” to their lower extremities, Hertman said, but did not disclose whether those victims suffered gunshot wounds. The victims were transported to Orange Regional Medical Center to receive treatment and are expected to survive.
Hertman said they did not yet know whether the gun was shot accidentally or intentionally.
Police are continuing to search for the suspect and the investigation is still ongoing.
Upon arriving to the packed mall full of Black Friday weekend shoppers, police immediately locked down the mall and evacuated customers. Police also searched the mall a second time to ensure there were no other victims and that all customers and employees had left the area.
The mall opened on Monday at 10 a.m. as usual, according to State Police Trooper Steven Nevel, and police are at the mall reviewing surveillance footage.
According to Hertman and Nevel, it is legal for a person with a permit to bring a registered gun into the mall. According to the Galleria at Crystal Run website, the mall has a “no weapons allowed” policy.

This is an ongoing story and will be updated as information is made available.