Suspect Shot After Pointing Replica Gun at Officer in TX Mall

A police officer shot and wounded a man suspected of stealing from a store at The Parks at Arlington mall who pointed a weapon at him Sunday afternoon, reports the Dallas Morning News .

Two on-duty Arlington, TX, officers, who were in uniform, responded to a report of a theft about 4:30 p.m. at the Sunglass Hut at the mall, police Lt. Christopher Cook said.

One uniformed officer stayed on the upper deck of the mall and the second was on the lower floor. Mall security staff also reported on a two-way radio that they were following the man, who had reportedly stolen two pairs of sunglasses, police said.

Police said the man fled from security and got on the escalator to the second floor, near the food court. He pulled out what police said was later found to be an imitation weapon and pointed it at the police officer on the first floor. Believing that it was a real gun, the officer fired at the man, striking him, Cook said.

The suspect, who is in his early 20s, was taken to an area hospital. His condition was unavailable Sunday evening and authorities released no additional information.

No other injuries were reported.