Family of Citadel Mall shooting victim reacts to new security measures

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (KKTV) – After the company that owns the Citadel Mall shed new light on its updated safety plan, the family of a teenager paralyzed in a 2022 shooting is speaking out.

The measures announced by Namdar Realty on Tuesday include:

• A test program for AI surveillance cameras, including the installation of nine new cameras covering all main entrances and the food court.
• An increase in total security hours by 53 hours/week, including armed security seven days/week.
• A complete review of on-site security policies and procedures with various adjustments to better meet immediate needs.

But Marjorie Bell says the changes come too late for her daughter, who will spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair after a shooting in the mall parking lot.

According to the family’s lawyers, 12-year-old Makayla Anderson was leaving the mall in May 2022 when she was caught in a shootout between two groups of people.

The shot to the chest left her paralyzed from the waist down and partially unable to use her right arm.

Bell said it had been a tough two years for her daughter.

“It’s heartbreaking what she has to go through day after day. She hates going through all this. It’s pretty much the same as day one,” she said.

The family is suing Namdar Realty and its owner Igdal Namdar for failing to take necessary steps to address safety concerns and protect customers.

“These changes could have been made years ago and were needed years ago,” said attorney Chris Stewart. “What we are learning throughout our litigation is that Citadel Mall and Namdar Realty are only interested in money.”

Stewart claims that even after a series of shootings and other crimes occurred on or near the mall premises, the mall’s owners took no steps to improve security until parts of the mall were placed on the military’s restricted list.

“For them, profit is more important than people, and when they saw that a large portion of their potential customers were no longer going to visit the mall, suddenly there were a lot of security updates and changes,” he said.

11 News has reached out to Namdar Realty for comment. We have not received a response.

The process to strengthen security at the mall will continue on Friday with a community meeting with stakeholders from Zeal Church.

“The purpose of the meeting is to hear the opinion of the community, the opinion of the community stakeholders, both the people who work and do business here at the Citadel Mall, as well as the neighbors, students and the people who use the mall,” said 5th District Councilmember Nancy Henjum.

Henjum said she wanted to get a better idea of ​​what people expect from the mall in the future.

“Personally, I would like to see more culture, art and culinary experiences,” she said. “I think malls are less about retail now and more about experiences, but to have good food and good shopping and maybe see some art as well would be fantastic.”

Doors open at 3:30 p.m. and the session will last from 4 to 6 p.m.

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