AUGUSTA, Ga. ()- Tuesday’s deadly shooting at the mall has some in the community questioning if the mall is a safe place to go for entertainment and shopping.

The mall reopened with normal business hours earlier today less than 24 hours since yesterday’s shooting.

But some in the community are questioning the future of the mall, and if it’s a safe place to go after a slew of incidents in recent years. 

Anna Dixon says she and her kids have been going to the Augusta mall for years.

But after this most recent incident, she calling for it to be shut down for good. 

“I don’t want nothing to happen to them, because there’s too much stuff going on in Augusta, Georgia. But I condone that it needs to be shut down,” she said.

Back in October 2020, we reported a shooting that happened at the Hot Topic store that killed one person and left another injured. 

In April last year, shots were fired inside the Dillard’s on a Sunday afternoon that left another person injured. 

Then just 3 months later on July 4th, a shooting left another person injured. 

“It’s every day. Every day you turn on the tv, turn on the news, and something else is happening in our area,” said Fabian Curry.

While some are calling for the mall to close, others say the mall itself isn’t the problem.

“I think closing it is not the answer. It’s going to have to be the kinds of programs and projects we are looking to do in our community that’s going to help make a difference. You’ve got to change the mindset—-and right now the mindset is not good,” said Reverend Dr. Larry Fryer, a community activist.

While community activists are working to reach the youth, we asked Sheriff Eugene Brantley about the number of deputies at the mall before the shooting happened, and if there’s plans to increase security at the mall in the future.

He says he’s not sure of that plan going forward at least for the moment.

“Anything could be safer than what it is, but that’s not what I’m here to do right now,” Brantley said.

Some in the community are calling for more security measures at the mall, raising the question if metal detectors should be installed.

“You can have a place full of police officers, and people can still bring guns. It’s sad to say, but maybe a metal detector would work,” said Curry.

“It’s going to take our Sheriff’s department, Marshal, mayor, and others continuing to work together to help find solutions,” Fryer said.

Earlier Wednesday morning, deputies arrested a 14-year-old and a 15-year-old after a shooting last night on Druid Park Avenue.

Both are charged with 9 counts of aggravated assault, and investigators believe this shooting is in relation to the deadly shooting at the mall. 

We also reached out to the mall property owners for comment, and they tell us they’re working with the Sheriff’s Office as they continue to investigate.