A suspect has been arrested following Tuesday afternoon's shooting at Brass Mill Center in Waterbury that left five people injured .
Tajuan Washington, 19, was being held on $2 million bond. He is expected to appear in court Wednesday, police said.
Police were called to the mall around 4:40 p.m. following a report of a disturbance. Officers found "several" people with gunshot wounds in the mall.
No fatalities were reported. Victims were transported to local hospitals.
Officials said there was no immediate threat to the public. Waterbury police said the victims have non-life-threatening injuries.
Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo said police believe the shooter knows the victims and that the shooting was preceded by a dispute that quickly escalated.
“We do not believe this was a random act of violence,” Spagnolo said at a briefing outside the mall, adding that there is no further threat to the public.
The mall was closed on Wednesday as officials condemned the violence.
“Gun violence isn’t something that we will ever accept," said Ronnell Higgins, commissioner of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.
“It is not OK to come to a mall and then find yourself a victim of gun violence,” he said. “It is not OK for someone to come here to work and find themselves hiding, sheltering in place.”
Waterbury police say they're working with various law enforcement agencies; state police said they have units at the scene to assist.
An investigation was underway Tuesday evening as officials gathered video and digital evidence, while others searched the mall store by store.
Spagnolo said that mall staff and guests did "an incredible job" in keeping themselves safe and mitigated "what could have been a really bad incident."
“It was really amazing to watch people in this time of crisis to keep cool heads and follow plans and shelter in place,” he said.
Spagnolo added: "These acts occur, unfortunately, it's the society we live in at times."
Gov. Ned Lamont said Tuesday night he was grateful to law enforcement, “who acted swiftly,” and that “hearts break” for the Waterbury community and those affected by the shooting.
The mall, Lamont said, is “a place where everyone should feel safe.”
Connecticut Public's Eric Aasen, Jim Haddadin, Patrick Skahill and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
