Police: Man accused of shooting at officer during chase at mall

Police say a car theft suspect who shot at a Gastonia Police officer at Eastridge Mall Monday afternoon was injured during a chase.

Police identified the suspect as 19-year-old Jamoral Lee Hill of Gastonia. When he’s released from the hospital, police intend to charge him with attempted first-degree murder, assault on a law enforcement officer with a firearm, possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of a stolen motor vehicle, and resisting a law enforcement officer. He was in serious condition at Caromont Regional Medical Center.

The officer was not injured, and no one was struck by the bullet fired by the suspect, police said.

The incident began just after 2 p.m. Monday when Gastonia Police Officer Jason Harris responded to Eastridge Mall in Gastonia to investigate a stolen vehicle.

The vehicle’s owner located the car at the mall and gave Harris a description of the suspect.

Harris found the man inside the mall and tried to detain him, but the suspect ran off. Harris gave chase.

The suspect ran out of the mall and, when Harris pursued, the suspect fired one shot at the officer, Gastonia Police said in a news release. Harris was not hit by a bullet and didn’t return fire.

The chase came to an end when the suspect tried to jump over a stone wall outside the Belk Department store, police say. On the other side of the wall was a 15- to 20-foot drop. Hill was injured and was taken into custody where he landed.

Police say the suspect’s gun was located at the scene.

This story was originally published January 25, 2016 at 6:19 PM with the headline "Police: Man accused of shooting at officer during chase at mall."