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Police Look For Answers After Fatal Shooting At Towson Town Center; Victim Identified

TOWSON, Md. (WJZ) — Violence erupted at Towson Town Center, leaving a teenager dead. The shooting happened as the mall was packed, just days before Christmas. Now police are searching for the teen's killer.

Mike Schuh has new information on a critical piece of evidence.

The murder outside Nordstrom at Towson Town Center put shoppers on edge Tuesday. Less than 24 hours earlier, police swarmed the mall, blocking off entrances and searching for a killer. The victim, Rodney Vest Pridget, was gunned down at just 19.

Detectives searched through the mall's extensive security camera network for clues.

"At this time, we're following all leads up, looking at all circumstances you would look into to try to understand why this took place," said Baltimore County Police Chief James W. Johnson.

"It makes me nervous. I don't want to go to the mall alone anymore," said shopper Erin Roberts.

"I did see there were additional cars in the parking lot as I was going through, trying to park," said shopper Dan Robinson.

Police say the teenager was targeted. Court records reveal he was on supervised probation for robbery and assault.

Mall management released this statement: "We have very few details to share at this time as to a motive. However, we are confident the...investigation will yield an arrest of a suspect or suspects. We do not believe this was a random incident."

"It's probably going to be more safe than it was before and I tell them to be patient with our police department," said Councilman David Marks.

This is the second murder at Towson Town Center since 2005 when teacher William Bassett was gunned down in a robbery.

Since that murder, any shopping center with at least 15 stores in Baltimore County must have security cameras.

Violence has erupted at other malls, too, including two murders at Arundel Mills last month.

"You think you're safe in Towson, but you're not. You're not safe anywhere," said shopper Thomas Murphy.

If you have information, please call police.

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