It’s the kind of story that gets peoples’ attention, and understandably so.
For new details, click here.
For mall statement, click here.
A woman waiting for her daughter outside the movie theater at NorthPark Center was shot in the face Friday night. Police have made no arrests and don’t seem to know a motive.
I was one of the reporters sent to the scene to try to gather information about what happened for NBC 5.
When we arrived, we saw lots of police cars outside the mall. We parked and started to get out our camera.
Two mall security guards and a mall manager quickly swarmed around us.
“Off the property,” the manager said. “You need to get off the property.”
After a few choice words with the manager as we were putting back the camera, we left. We had to. Shopping malls are private property.
We didn’t have a chance to talk to any witnesses, not even the police officers who we usually interact with at crime scenes.
Back on the public street outside the mall, we were helpless. We could not gather a single fact. We shot some video, but we really couldn’t see much from so far away. And we couldn’t talk to anyone.
Even though dozens of mall customers were coming and going, and the mall remained open, we suddenly had no right to be there.
Our ability to cover the story, and pass the information on to the public, was severely hampered. In my opinion, it was nothing short of censorship on the part of the mall.
Yes, we still reported the story as best we could, but important details were no doubt lost.
In my opinion, it’s the public that lost. When there’s an act of such violence at a public place (even though the law sees malls and mall parking lots as private property), people want to know the full facts, and they deserve nothing less.
The mall could have easily allowed us to stay to do our job, but they were apparently more interested in public relations than public safety.
In my view, those security guards should have been more concerned with finding the shooter than in going after journalists.
Malls like NorthPark are the first ones to invite us to cover fluff stories like Santa Claus at Christmas time, but if it’s a story they view as “negative,” reporters are persona non grata.
What does the mall have to say to its shoppers, and the broader public, about what happened Friday night? Absolutely nothing. They would rather that people not know. A mall spokeswomen still has not returned my phone call to her cell phone Friday night.
Am I making too much of this? What do you think?
Sooo, where were those aggressive security guards when this poor woman was being shot in the face? I guess their testosterone levels only get raised when they perceive a threat from the “big, bad wolf” of a reporter brandishing a microphone instead of the ones with a gun. I completely understand your frustration, and let’s face it, situations like this don’t occur that often, so these guys go overboard. It’s just too bad they weren’t in such a high alert mode in time to help this woman.
So, don’t cover the fluff there. Who needs to see another Santa story or ribbon cutting at that mall? Lord knows there’s about a billion other shopping centers in North Texas that would love to take their place on your newscast. Next time their PR person calls you up, remind them that you’re not allowed on their “private property” and tell them you’ve got an appointment at the Galleria!
Keep up the good work! And don’t let the Bozo’s get you down.
Scott, Sorry but I think you (media) are getting as bad as the papparazzi. You don’t need to take your camera to get police or witness statements. You don’t need to take pictures of a bloody crime for this poor womans family to have to see repeatedly on your reports. By telling the story that someone was shot outside the mall is more than enough information to be more vigilant. Stop being worried about your ratings and if you get ‘the shot’, start worring about the one who was shot.
Actually Amanda S. you are not realizing the importance of the information the media was seeking. NorthPark Mall has long been my favoite mall in the area but not knowing if this was a targeted crime or random act of violence is unsettling. I would rather hear the facts especially if the suspect is someone she may know. If this was random then I would think the mall would certainly want to keep it out of the media. I suppose the only way to go to that mall now will be packing a pistol.
By the way I am NO BIG FAN of media stories especially when you see their political slants (which is most of the time) however I think the public would like to know if this could have been personal or random. I certainly hope it is something the media continues to follow.
I’m with Amanda on this one.
I want to point out one quote: “those security guards should have been more concerned with finding the shooter than in going after journalists.”
It would seem to me that ejecting reporters from the mall might have allowed them to do just that. Reporters frequently abuse their privileges. Rather than having to look over their shoulder and rather than spending their valuable time making sure that reporters don’t overstep their bounds yet again, they were, quite possibly, able to shuffle witnesses to police and protect evidence.
How about this? “A mall spokeswomen still has not returned my phone call to her cell phone Friday night.”
Well if you denigrated my staff I wouldn’t return your call either.
Aunt Lisa,
I guess I can understand your wanting to know if it is random or not. However, does it really matter? The information as to if is was random or not has come out in 2 days. Could you not wait to shop for 2 days? You live in Dallas, Texas depend on people having guns, even in pretty North Park. You should assume responsibility for your own saftey and not depend on the news. You never know when your number is up.