28-year-old man faces trial for shooting man in parking lot of BJ’s Brewhouse in Tanger Outlets

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (WFLX) – West Palm Beach police are investigating a shooting that occurred Sunday.

Police said the shooting occurred around 7:05 p.m. in the parking lot of BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse at Tanger Outlets.

According to an affidavit, a 911 caller told dispatch that someone had been shot and the shooter was running north across the parking lot.

The caller’s husband told police he heard two gunshots at close range as he was getting into his car in the parking lot of BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse. When he turned his head, he saw the victim lying on the ground and the shooter walking away from the scene with a black firearm in his hand, the affidavit states.

The caller assisted the victim by placing towels on the gunshot wound to his leg.

The victim was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital in stable condition.

According to the affidavit, the victim said he was shopping at the outlets when he got into an argument with Mauricio Lopez. The victim told police he “didn’t know why” Lopez shot him and that he “wanted to press charges.”

Lopez, 28, was tracked down at the outlets and arrested. Investigators found a black Smith and Wesson gun on his person and two 9mm cartridges in the parking lot.

He is accused of grievous bodily harm and concealed possession of a firearm.

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