‘Family of Ocala Shooting Victim Opens Up About Emotional Trauma’

OCALA, Fla. – “We cannot go there. It’s still very traumatizing,” Marcia Harrison said.

She and her three boys haven’t been back to Paddock Mall since December 2023, when David Barron was murdered just two days before Christmas.

“We love and we miss David very much. We’ve definitely had our ups and downs. It’s been pretty challenging,” Harrison added.

The family hasn’t been able to get closure, since the trial for Albert Shell Jr.—the man accused of killing Barron—has yet to begin.

“No family should have to go through this whatsoever,” she said.

According to Ocala police, Shell targeted Barron, chasing him through the mall.

[VIDEO: Man accused of fatally shooting 1, injuring another at Paddock Mall in Ocala]

At one stage, Barron attempted to defend himself before being shot. Shell escaped the location and evaded capture for weeks until being detained in January 2024. He is currently held in the county jail, awaiting trial scheduled in the coming months.

Harrison said the wait is taking a toll on her family.

“Just kind of nurturing the boys through this. It’s been really hard. We’re just looking for justice,” she explained.

This month, the family filed a lawsuit claiming Paddock Mall was not safe at the time of the shooting.

Their attorney, Pedro Echarte, said, “One of the busiest shopping days of the year, Dec. 23, the security was entirely inadequate.”

The lawsuit alleges that Paddock Mall, along with its previous owners Washington Prime Group and Allied Security, were negligent in several areas. These include not having an adequate number of security personnel in visible locations to prevent crime and lacking sufficient surveillance cameras throughout the premises.

“My children did not deserve to endure this ordeal. David’s family shares this pain. Our aim is justice, and we hope no one else has to endure such a dreadful experience,” expressed Harrison.

Since the incident, Paddock Mall has come under new ownership, now operated by CBL Properties.

In a statement to News 6, the company said in part:

“While we don’t publicly disclose details, we are committed to maintaining a comfortable and welcoming space for our tenants and our shoppers.”

The state intends to pursue the death penalty against Shell, who is charged with multiple offenses, such as first-degree murder. A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for the upcoming month.