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More Details To Be Released About Mall In Columbia Shooting

COLUMBIA, Md. (WJZ) --  Months after a deadly shooting at the Mall in Columbia, we could soon learn new critical details about that tragic day.

Mike Hellgren reports Howard County officials are holding a news conference Wednesday.

Police promise an extensive briefing on the tragedy, saying they will walk us through the moments leading up to the shooting, after the shooting and what they learned about the shooter's activities beforehand.

In the more than six weeks since the shooting, police have been piecing together the puzzle of what happened, why 19-year-old Darion Aguilar bought a gun, took a cab from his home in College Park and opened fire inside Zumiez, killing two employees there--a young mother, Brianna Benlolo, and Tyler Johnson--before killing himself.

They now say they are ready to release new details about Aguilar and new evidence, including photos and video.

"Violent acts have no boundaries. We look forward to hearing their final reports as to exactly what went on here," said Congressman Elijah Cummings.

That is welcome news to those who live in this community, who are still trying to heal the scars of that chaotic day.

"We'd like to know--who, what, why," said Judy Hood. "Why."

"The motive, mostly. The motive. Why did he do it?" said Ben Olson.

WJZ has reported on a journal Aguilar left behind, saying he wanted to die. In it, he indicates he thought he needed a mental health professional but never told his family. His mother expressed shock.

"Never had a gun before, never been interested in guns, never been interested in anything like that," his mother said in an interview with WJZ's media partner, WNEW.

In providing answers, investigators hope to provide closure.

Police previously said Aguilar hung around the mall quite a bit. In his journal, he did apologize to his family.

WJZ will be there to cover the press conference at 11 a.m. Wednesday.

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