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Things were relatively back to normal by 5 p.m. Although, merchants told ABC7 that it has been a very rough couple of weeks as at least two stores at the shopping center have recently been robbed.
At least five shell casings littered the ground in front of a busy cell phone store. A shooting victim's bloody clothing lay a few hundred feet away in front of a WalMart, where he apparently collapsed between two cars.
"I was actually in the store, and some guy was right behind me and had ran in and said, 'Someone just got shot,'" witness Valerie Green told ABC7. "So I come out and it literally happened right next to my truck, literally. And, I seen the guy there with all this blood and just said a silent prayer for him."
Police say the shooting was likely the result of a drug deal gone bad. The 21-year-old victim, a Pittsburg man, was shot several times but is expected to survive. He is not cooperating with police.
"Whether it was exchange of gunfire or just one person firing, we're not sure yet. We have recovered one handgun on the scene as well as some expended casings and a small amount of drugs," said Pittsburg Police Lt. Brian Addington.
Investigators said surveillance video from multiple cameras shows the victim among a group of young men. One of them, 19-year-old Martell Mays, was arrested on an outstanding warrant. It is not clear what Mays' role might have been in the shooting.
"I think it's outrageous. I think it's insange that someone would be shot or hurt right here in WalMart's parking lot," said shopper Gregory Smith. "That could happen anywhere. It could happen on the church steps."
Investigators are searching for the occupants of two vehicles, a black SUV and a black Mustang-like sedan. Both were seen speeding away. The victim's blood-stained Cadillac remained in the parking lot as shoppers went about their business.
Even with the shooting shopper Marquita Gallon said she will not think twice about going to the shopping center. "Oh no. No, got to come to WalMart," she said. "Things happen everywhere. Just got to be careful."
Police are not certain yet that this was a drug deal but they did say it is not uncommon for those involved in such transactions to try to conduct them in very public places and busy places like the shopping center, to reduce the possiblity of violence.
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