Man in ‘grave condition’ after Braintree South Shore Plaza shooting: police

A man fighting for his life is in “grave condition” after he was shot in a store in the crowded South Shore Plaza in Braintree, police say as they police continue to search for the gunman.

The 3 p.m. shooting took place in an undisclosed store within the mall, said Deputy Chief Tim Cohoon of the Braintree Police Department in a 5:15 p.m. press conference in which he said he had limited information at this time and did not take questions. Police said a man walked up to another, took out a gun and shot him.

Cohoon described the man who was shot as in “grave condition,” and state police said he had been taken to a Boston hospital with “life-threatening” injuries.

Cohoon added that “as best as we can tell” the shooter left the area, and cops continue to search for him.

“It looks like a targeted event,” Cohoon said. “It doesn’t appear to be random at all and at this time we don’t believe there is any further danger to the surrounding neighborhood.”

There have been several weapons incidents at the busy mall over the past few years. Gang members exchanged gunfire in the Macy’s shoe department in 2017, and then a different pair got into a gunfight in July 2020. No one was injured in the 2017 incident, but in the 2020 one a teenage girl suffered non-life-threatening wounds when she caught a stray bullet.

Police made arrests nearby after tracking down suspects in both cases.“This is unacceptable and we will be working directly with South Shore Plaza/Simon Properties to come up with solutions to these problems,” Braintree Mayor Chuck Kokorus told reporters, referencing the managing company of the mall.

Braintree Police’s Twitter account said the mall — one of the largest in the region — was briefly locked down, but then patrons were able to come out from cover and leave. The mall remained evacuated and closed afterward.

Braintree Police said the department’s detectives are following several investigative leads. Anyone with information is asked to call them at 781-794-8620 or email tips@braintreema.gov.