Police in Manchester confirm that a 27-year-old male security guard was shot Friday afternoon outside Macy's at the Buckland Hills mall. He was shot in the abdomen and his condition is not being released.
They say the guard was attacked in the parking lot at just after 12 pm, while attempting to approach a shoplifter. The guard was found, wounded, inside the store entrance.
As of just after 5 pm, police believed the suspect had left the area. He's been identified as 30-year-old Richard LaPlante of Windsor.
Police are asking anyone with information on the suspect pictured here to contact Det. Claire Hearn at (860) 645-5549:
Shoppers were frightened, but unhurt. A few local teens say they sheltered in place, with help from store employees.
"We went into the back room and we were sitting there for at least a half hour, maybe," shopper Marisa Resnick told WFSB-TV, "just waiting for any kind of information if we were allowed to leave or not."
"We are deeply saddened about the incident that took place today at Macy's Pavilions at Buckland Hills," wrote Macy's spokesperson Stephanie Jimenez. "The safety of our customers and our colleagues is Macy’s top priority. We are working closely with the local police department on this investigation and defer all comments about the case to them per policy."
Beyond releasing the photo of the person they call a suspect, Manchester police officials aren't releasing details on the search, calling it an active investigation.
