More than 100 deputies responded to the mall, where investigators said no one was struck by the gunfire.
BRANDON, Fla. — A 16-year-old has been arrested on an attempted first-degree murder charge after investigators said he fired a handgun inside Brandon Exchange following a fight between two groups, triggering a massive law enforcement response and evacuation of businesses.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office identified the teenager as Daeshaun Williams. Investigators said witness interviews and surveillance footage helped them identify Williams after the Nov. 11 shooting. No one was struck by gunfire, authorities said, although one person suffered a minor injury from broken glass. Detectives have described the confrontation as an isolated incident involving people who knew one another.
The first 911 call reporting shots fired inside the mall came at 5:16 p.m., according to the sheriff’s office. Five additional calls followed over the next two minutes, including a report of a possible shooter near the Verizon store. Deputies were dispatched at 5:17 p.m., and the sheriff’s office said the first deputy reached the mall one minute later.
The response quickly expanded to more than 100 deputies. K-9 teams, drone personnel and the agency’s aviation unit were among the resources sent to the shopping center. Deputies cleared businesses, searched the property and worked to account for shoppers and employees while detectives began determining whether the gunfire was part of a broader threat. Authorities later said there was no active threat to the public.
Investigators said the confrontation began with a physical altercation between two groups in a hallway near the mall’s family room. Several people then ran into the mall’s main corridor. One person was knocked to the ground, and Williams allegedly began firing a handgun, according to the sheriff’s office. Surveillance footage showed people connected to the altercation leaving the mall as deputies arrived.
Williams faces several allegations in addition to attempted first-degree murder. The sheriff’s office listed charges including attempted aggravated battery involving a firearm, discharging a firearm in public, trespassing in an occupied structure, tampering with physical evidence, a firearm possession offense and a probation violation. The charges are accusations, and the case has not been adjudicated.
Witnesses described a sudden rush for safety as word of gunfire spread through the mall. Employees at some businesses locked doors and directed customers toward back areas while deputies moved through the shopping center. A shattered store window caused the minor injury reported by authorities, but investigators said there were no gunshot victims.
The incident brought another major law enforcement response to Brandon Exchange only months after a separate fatal shooting inside the shopping center. In July, 15-year-old Jaden Law was found dead inside a fitting room at Dick’s House of Sport. A different 16-year-old was later charged with manslaughter in that case. Authorities have not indicated that the July death and the Nov. 11 gunfire are connected.
Investigators said the November shooting followed a dispute among people who knew one another rather than a random attack on shoppers. Detectives were still working to identify other people involved in the initial fight and determine the full circumstances surrounding the confrontation.
The sheriff’s office said the investigation remains ongoing. Williams was in custody as detectives continued examining surveillance footage, witness accounts and the actions of others involved in the altercation.
Author note: Last updated November 13, 2026.