AUGUSTA, Ga. (WFXG) - The Augusta Mall is back to normal business hours, after a shooting made the business close early Sunday.

While it's back to business as usual, shoppers are on high alert.

Nye Williams worked at the mall for almost 10 years. She says the mall has really taken a turn and wants shoppers to stay safe.

"We never experienced anything like this in all the years that I was here," Williams says. "Just a little bit scary. I have teenagers and they come to the mall and it's something you want to be on high alert about."

The Richmond County Sheriff's Office responded to Dillard's just before 2 p.m. Sunday to reports of shots fired.

Deputies were told the suspect left the scene and the victim had left before they arrived.

Officials say the victim drove themselves to the hospital.

Some shoppers were surprised to hear the news of the shooting.

"Augusta's not really bad when it comes to crime, I live on the Grovetown side where we don't really experience any crime," Williams says. "So, it's very shocking, we almost didn't come in today because of the shooting."

Others say, the news wasn't a big shock.

"I see it in retail how people have changed, their attitudes, customers, it's just not the same anymore," David Orr says. "I'd like to go back to the good old days where you could leave your doors unlocked, the windows opened, you didn't have to worry about shootings and things like that."

This isn't the first time a shooting has happened at the mall. In 2020, one person was shot and killed in a shooting at the lower level of the mall. After that, employees pushed for increased security. In 2022, a shooting occurred at the BP Gas Station in front of the mall, injuring one person.

"It's our only mall and this is where people come to spend time to shop," Williams says. "But, with it getting warmer outside, you definitely want to make sure people feel comfortable to do that."

Shoppers and city leaders agree, they do not want to see history repeat itself.

"We want to keep businesses going here," District 3 Commissioner Catherine Smith Mcknight says. "I do not want to see what happened at Regency Mall happen to the Augusta Mall. But, if something doesn't happen, we are heading in that direction. If they can get more security out there, then people will be willing to go out and shop."

Commissioner Mcknight says it's the mall's responsibility to increase security, but she says she feels the Richmond County Sheriff's Office could increase their presence at the mall as well.

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