Triangle Town Center reopens one day after shooting that injured three people

Shoppers returned to the Triangle Town Center on Saturday, one day after three people were shot inside the mall.

Triangle Town Center reopened at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Rahul Hassani has worked for the past three-and-a-half years as the owner of Authentiks, a streetwear store at Triangle Town Center. He recalled the shooting on Friday afternoon.

“People were running, and I was confused,” Hassani said. “I thought they had dropped something or running away from it because they were embarrassed … the next thing you know, I heard like seven or eight more [shots], if not more than that.

“And then people were like, ‘Do you have an emergency exit?’ And I'm escorting everyone out to the to my store emergency entrance.”

Hassani said Friday’s shooting happened quickly. He said he heard a single gunshot before hearing several more.

Three 17-year-olds assaulted 20-year-old Triangle Center worker before shooting, police say

The Raleigh Police Department said three 17-year-olds arrived on Friday afternoon at the mall before confronting and assaulting a 20-year-old working there. According to the police, the 20-year-old had a handgun and shots were fired.

The 20-year-old and one of the 17-year-olds remained at the scene until the police arrived, according to the police.

Police said two of the other 17-year-olds ran from the scene, including one who was injured. They arrived at an area hospital, where police were also called.

Raleigh police recovered two handguns at the scene.

Police said three people were shot and taken to the hospital. Police said their injuries are not life-threatening.

Raleigh Police Lt. David Davis said on Friday the victims were connected to the groups and no bystanders were shot.

Security at Triangle Town Center

“Security is all over the mall,” Hassani said. “I didn't see any at the time, but I know that within the next minute, they were there, escorting people out and screaming and yelling at people … to get to a safe location and to get to the nearest store and put the shutter down and all that, or just exit the mall, but people were just running.”

On Saturday, Henderson resident Yasmine Person visited Triangle Town Center in Raleigh to shop for her children for the summer and to get her baby girl’s ears pierced. She said she saw the information about Friday’s shooting on social media.

“I personally didn’t feel unsafe or anything because I didn’t feel like it was an event where people were just targeting everyone,” Person said.

Triangle Town Center spokesperson Jordan Barowitz said the mall would increase security patrol "by 50%" since Friday for "as long as necessary."

WRAL News requested an interview with Barowitz on Saturday, but he declined.

“I think that’s a good idea, but what are they doing more to help resolve the issue?” Person said about the mall’s increase in security. “You can have more people, but what are you doing to prevent it from happening again?”

Hassani said he was surprised Triangle Town Center reopened on Saturday, one day after the shooting.

“I understand. I mean, Raleigh is a big city,” Hassani said. “Money flows. Business flows. I’m not complaining because I’m a business owner myself, and the weekend is the busiest time for any business owner.”

Hassani said he walked through the mall before stores opened on Saturday afternoon.

“There's no blood or anything that even shows that there was a shooting that happened [Friday],” Hassani said. “I mean, if you weren't here, or if you didn't read it on the news, you wouldn't be able to tell, truthfully.”

Other interview requests

WRAL News reached out to Raleigh City Councilwoman Megan Patton for an interview, she sent a statement about Fridays incident, saying councilmembers “held their breath” as news of the shooting first broke. She said while she is relieved there was no active shooter situation, she said incidents like this can create a lot of uncertainty and worry.

“Please know that I hear you, and my top priority is public safety,” Patton said in part in a statement to WRAL News. “We will continue as a council to support our first responders, and as a community to support each other.”

WRAL News has also reached out to Raleigh Mayor Janet Cowell about Friday’s shooting, but has not heard back.