Rockford Police have issued a warrant for a man who may have been involved in the latest shooting incident at the CherryVale Mall this weekend that left one man injured.
This was the second shooting incident in just over a week at the mall, resulting in stepped up security inside and out.
“We’ve increased our security and officer presence, and we’ll continue to evaluate our protocol on an ongoing basis,” CherryVale Mall spokesperson Stacey Keating told the Rockford Register Star. “We’re working very closely with Cherry Valley Police Department and the (Winnebago County) Sheriff’s Department.”
Keating did not comment on specific precautions the mall will take.
Police reported that a man who was getting out of his wheelchair into his car outside the JC Penney store on the north side of the mall was shot twice about 3 p.m. Saturday by someone driving by in a gold Buick, which then sped away. The victim, who was not identified, was being treated for gunshot wounds in his abdomen and leg at a Rockford hospital. The injuries are not considered life-threatening.
About an hour after the mall incident, Rockford Police officers patrolling in northwest Rockford located a Buick matching the description of the car involved in the mall shooting. That car fled, and the officers followed until they lost sight of it near Spring Creek and North Alpine Roads.
Shortly thereafter, a hit-and-run accident involving a gold Buick was reported near East State Street and New Towne Road. Shots were fired by the driver of the Buick, who later was identified as Donald Ashford Jr., 22, of Rockford.
A gold Buick LeSabre, was located on Van Wie Avenue a few hours after the shooting.
Cherry Valley Police Chief Larry Neville said Saturday’s incident apparently is gang-related – but not related to the previous shooting at the mall on Sept. 30.
According to police, the earlier incident started as an altercation inside the mall and ended when some participants ran into the parking lot outside Macy's and fired shots back at the mall. The mall was evacuated, but no injuries were reported and no arrests have been made.
Police asking that anyone with knowledge of Ashford contact the Investigations Bureau, at (779) 500-6551 or Crime Stoppers at (815) 963-7867.