- The shooting took place at Penn Square Mall.
- The incident began as a disturbance between two individuals that left one of them shot in the chest, according to police.
- Among the players in attendance for the private movie screening was center Steven Adams.
Members of the Oklahoma City Thunder were attending a private movie screening at a local mall on Thursday when shots were fired at a nearby shoe store.
Team security was onsite and immediately made aware of the situation. A team spokesman later told The Athletic’s Erik Horne that the Thunder players were never in danger.
Isolated Incident
The shooting took place at Penn Square Mall, located at the intersection of Oklahoma City’s Pennsylvania Ave. and Northwest Expressway, near Interstate 44.
The incident began as a disturbance between two individuals that left one of them shot in the chest, according to police. The mall was placed in lockdown almost immediately after the shooting, with patrons and employees leaving the area or sheltering in place.
Later, local ABC affiliate KOCO obtained video of the fight that may have prompted the shooting.
KOCO has obtained video of the possible fight that may have lead up to the shooting at Penn Square Mall. The suspect is still on the loose and a manhunt is underway. Victim is at OU Med in critical condition. pic.twitter.com/94DCfolbyP
— Zach Rael (@KOCOZach) December 20, 2019
The victim was ultimately wheeled out of the mall on a stretcher by paramedics and is reportedly in critical condition.
JaCobb Irvin sharing this video with @NEWS9 showing a person being transported moments after the shooting at Penn Square Mall. pic.twitter.com/H6WOIVZM6q
— Storme Jones (@StormeJones) December 20, 2019
Police didn’t initially identify a suspect but later described a black male wearing grey sweatpants and no shirt seen fleeing the Foot Locker inside Penn Square Mall. Authorities were still clearing the mall of people as their search for the alleged shooter unfolded.
Thunder In Between Home Games
The Thunder came back from a double-digit deficit to beat the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night at Chesapeake Energy Arena, a 15-minute drive from Penn Square Mall. They had an off day on Thursday before another home game on Friday night against the Phoenix Suns.
Among the players in attendance for the private movie screening was center Steven Adams. He was photographed leaving the mall shortly after the shooting, holding a replica of R2-D2 from Star Wars.
The Thunder are 13-14 this season, seventh place in the Western Conference.