Video shows suspected Melbourne Square mall shooter

Jose Garcia-Rodriguez took own life after killing shop owner, police say

MELBOURNE, Fla. – It's been almost three weeks since the shooting that killed two people, including the gunman, inside the Melbourne Square Mall and Wednesday police released surveillance video taken from inside seconds before the gunfire. 

[VIDEO: Surveillance released in mall shooting ]

In the newly released video, Jose Garcia-Rodriguez is seen casually strolling through the mall's back hallway. The hallway leads to the food court, which is where the Palm Bay man reportedly fired dozens of shots.

Moments after the gunfire erupted, the video shows what appears to be a food court worker running away from the scene. Another person is spotted talking on the phone, presumably calling 911.

Garcia-Rodriguez wounded his wife and killed a pizza shop owner before turning the gun on himself, according to police.

Melbourne police officers quickly got to the mall. Paramedics rushed the pizza shop owner, Leonardo Coppola, to the hospital where he later died.

Police said Coppola was trying to protect Garcia-Rodriguez's wife, Ida Garcia-Rodriguez, from the gunfire.

According to investigators, Garcia-Rodriguez was armed with three handguns and had pockets full of ammunition.

Police don't yet have a motive to the shooting, only saying that it was a domestic dispute.

Ida Garcia-Rodriguez is out of the hospital and continues to cooperate with investigators. 


About the Author

Justin Warmoth joined News 6 in 2013 and is now a morning news anchor.

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