GRAND CHUTE, WI (WTAQ) — Grand Chute Police are searching for a man for his involvement in the fatal shooting at the Fox River Mall on Sunday. 17-year-old Dezman Ellis is believed to be riding in a blue, 2012 Dodge Avenger with license plate AHP-7939. Police say the incident is believed to have been targeted, and that Ellis is considered armed and dangerous.
One person was killed and another hurt in a shooting at the Fox River Mall. 19-year-old Jovanni Frausto reportedly died from his injuries, while another victim suffered non-life threatening injuries.
PRESS RELEASE – G21001999
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: January 31, 2021
Type of call: ShootingOn Sunday, January 31st,…
Posted by Grand Chute Police Department on Sunday, January 31, 2021
Law enforcement responded to the mall at around 3:34 p.m., according to Grand Chute Police Public Information Officer Travis Waas.
The shooter remains at-large.
“It is believed that the shooter left prior to law enforcement’s arrival,” Waas told reporters. “We’ve identified several witnesses who observed the incident those individuals are currently speaking with investigators…Investigators are actively following up on leads of possible suspect information. We will provide any suspect information as soon as we can.”
Waas would not identify the victim during the briefing Sunday night out of respect for the family. That information was released to the public around 11:15 p.m.
Press briefings from Waas can be found here:
BREAKING: Active shooter at the Fox River mall in Appleton, Wisconsin#shooting
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) January 31, 2021
Police are apparently working to evacuate some 200 or so people from the basement of the #FoxRiverMall according to scanner traffic. Several more sheltering at Target and Lululemon Stores. #Appleton #Wisconsin #Breaking
— News Talk WTAQ (@NewsTalkWTAQ) January 31, 2021
The scene in front of the Fox River Mall on January 31st, 2021 as police respond to a report of a shooting. (WTAQ/Casey Nelson)
Police from across the Fox Valley swarmed the building, blocking off any access for several hours. When we arrived on scene around 4:00 p.m., people were being escorted outside with their hands held high.
Sawyer says he was in Scheel’s when it happened.
“Just heard a pop and then everybody said there was a shooting, and we all took off running,” he told WTAQ News. “It was scary!”
Meanwhile, Lili was working at Rocky Rococo pizza on the opposite side of the food court from where the shots were reportedly fired.
“All of a sudden, we heard gun shootings and people are just running all over. We asked what happened and they said that there had been a shooting, so I told everybody, including my employees, to get to the back of our bathroom and lock the door immediately, along with other families,” Lili said. “All I heard was the shots. I didn’t see anything until we were evacuated…I saw blood mostly over by Claire’s and Taco John’s in that food court section…I can’t wait to get home back to my family.”
But Terrance Delaney was closer than just about anyone else in the building.
“An altercation broke out between more than one person, don’t know how many people, I was standing there right by Scheels and Panda Express and I heard gunshots rang off…It seems crazy. Obviously, I didn’t see the person get shot. But when you hear a gunshot inside of a building like that, it’s loud,” Delaney said. “I immediately start running, and as I’m running I see a light skinned [man], about early twenties, maybe late teens, dropped to the ground, injured.”
Delaney says he didn’t see the shooter.
As he ran, Delaney says his mind was racing faster than anything.
“Is it really happening? It’s stuff that you see like on the Internet. You wouldn’t expect it to happen,” Delaney said. “You see someone injured and they collapse to the floor, it’s just sad because you want to help them, but you don’t know the situation that you’re in…In the back of your mind, like do you help them? Or do you take cover for your own safety? I didn’t know the situation.”
Chuck E. Cheese was utilized as a reunification point. The mall was eventually cleared of people a little after 8:00 p.m.
More information about the incident is expected in the next few days.
WTAQ’s Casey Nelson was on-scene and contributed to this story.
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