Deadly Smoke Shop Shootout, Employee Charged After Gunfire Leaves Two Dead in Downtown Incident.

Deadly Smoke Shop Shootout, Employee Charged After Gunfire Leaves Two Dead in Downtown Incident.

A 26-year-old man is facing serious charges following a violent shootout outside a downtown smoke shop that left two people dead and raised ongoing questions about how the confrontation escalated so quickly. Authorities say the incident unfolded Saturday afternoon in the 1400 block of North 13th Street, shocking witnesses and nearby businesses.

According to investigators, what began as a verbal argument outside the Dragon Smoke Shop rapidly turned into a chaotic exchange of gunfire involving multiple individuals. Police allege that during the incident, Luhizo S. Maalin, an employee of the store, became actively involved in the shooting.

Officials claim that one of the victims had already been shot and was lying on the ground, injured and unarmed, when Maalin allegedly exited the store and fired additional shots. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities later confirmed that two people died as a result of the broader shootout, though details about the second victim and their involvement have not been fully disclosed.

Surveillance footage reportedly captured Maalin moving in and out of the smoke shop multiple times while discharging a firearm. Responding officers recovered the weapon believed to have been used in the shooting and took Maalin into custody at the scene without further incident.

Despite the arrest, investigators say key questions remain unanswered, including what initially sparked the argument and how many individuals were involved in the exchange of gunfire. The case continues to develop as authorities work to piece together the full sequence of events.