The incident began when the report came in just before 8 a.m., Forest Acres police Chief Gene Sealy told reporters. Two officers responded and attempted to talk to the person, who fled on foot and ran through parts of Richland Mall, including the Barnes and Noble bookstore, officials said.
Officer Greg Alia confronted the person, there was a struggle, and he was shot, Sealy said.
He was taken to a hospital and later died, officials said. No other injuries were reported.
Sealy said a suspect is in custody and is being questioned. Sealy described the man as being armed with a handgun and a knife at the mall. Police did not detail any charges against the man and did not take questions at their news conference.
Sealy said Alia was 32 years old and a seven-year veteran of the department. He and his wife, Kassy, recently had a baby, Sealy said.
Joan Woodward, 81, lived next door to the officer's parents and said she had known him since he was a baby. She said Wednesday afternoon that she'd just visited with his wife and baby.
"She said she was so fortunate that she had him for that length of time," Woodward said.
She remembered sneaking candy to the officer when he came to her door as a child, and she called him "a special human being."
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