Locals Reflect on Mayfair Mall Shooting

An employee and customer share their experience during the shooting at Mayfair Mall on November 20.  

Tracy Blalock was visiting the mall with her sister moments before hearing gunshots. Blalock recalls her mother noticing the gunshots before she did.  

“The first thing I did was go get my sister to make sure she was good, then we hid,” said Blalock via telephone call. 

Blalock recalls everyone “screaming and running all over the place.” 

“All I could think about was the mall shooting that happened earlier this year in another country and hope this wasn’t the end.” 

There were eight shot, and none killed during the shooting. The 15-year-old accused shooter made his first court appearance November 24. 

Picture of Mario Hamilton and his mural outside Nordstrom in Mayfair Mall.  

Communication and studio design major, Mario Hamilton was supposed to go into work to work on his mural outside of Nordstrom at Mayfair Mall. Hamilton recalls his spirit of discernment telling him not to go. 

“If I would’ve gone (to work on the mural the day to the Mayfair shooting) I would’ve been one of the victims too,” said artist Hamilton.  

Hamilton’s mural was planned to be completed by November 20^th, the day of the Mayfair shooting. Due to the shooting and the Trump rally that took place the next day, the mural was postponed and completed November 22^nd.  

“I got a lot of positive feedback from older people, younger people, all different races, they all loved it. Black people loved to see a Black artist working on a piece like that,” said Hamilton. 

The mural was planned, before the shooting, in response to the black lives matter movement that took place this summer. The mural highlights inclusivity and equality with hands of different shades locked together with a colorful background. 

Desiree Alexander was by cash register when she heard the of the gunshots. 

“A couple teenagers ran by our store telling us to leave and one of them stopped in saying they heard gunshots.” 

Alexander currently works at Claire’s in Mayfair Mall outside of the food court. 

“I wasn’t trained on any active shooter training at my job. I just used training from my other jobs and common sense.” 
 
When Alexander was notified of the shooting, she turned off the store lights and hid behind the cash register with her coworker. 

Both Alexander and Blalock have visited the mall after the shooting.  

Alexander said she has slight anxiety when going to work, but she doesn’t feel unsafe because it was an “isolated incident.” 

“I went back (to the mall) a week after because I needed some items,” said Blalock. “I was nervous going through there (the mall) and I was rushing. But then I saw they had more security and that made me feel a little better.”