Police captured two suspects who robbed a store in Fort Lauderdale's Galleria Mall Sunday afternoon, but three are believed to still be on the loose, the FBI said.
Malcolm Anwar Williams, 37, and Zavier McGee, 34, were arrested Sunday afternoon following a police pursuit from numerous agencies from Broward and Miami-Dade counties.
Williams and McGee appeared in federal court Monday morning. McGee already has a criminal record, including an indictment over a robbery of another Mayor's Jewelers on Lincoln Road in 2004.
Witnesses say the group of armed robbers held up the Mayor's Jewelers store around 3:30 p.m. on Sunday. Authorities said they bashed in a glass case with hammers and swiped some jewelery.
Other stores locked their doors with patrons inside, while other shoppers fled the mall.
"Very scary scene," mall patron Jim Holben said. "Everyone ran out and we thought there must have been an active shooter or something. No one knew what was happening at the time."
Other mall patrons said nearby stores allowed customers to hide in back during the commotion.
"The safety of our shoppers and employees is our top priority. We applaud the police for their immediate response to this isolated incident, which resulted in the apprehension of suspects," Mall general manager Mark Trouba said in a statement.
A witness provided video seen first on NBC 6 showing the robbery in progress. The suspects are then seen fleeing the mall, with police running behind them. Watch the video here.
NBC 6 viewers reported seeing multiple police cars with lights and sirens on Interstate 95 southbound, with a helicopter following.
Multiple police agencies gave chase after the robbers. According to the FBI, Williams and McGee were apprehended in Miami-Dade. Three additional subjects are believed to be at large.
The FBI, Fort Lauderdale Police Department, Broward Sheriff's Office, Miami Dade Police Department and the South Florida Violent Crime Task Force are continuing to investigate.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the FBI at 754-703-2000 or Broward Crime Stoppers at (954) 493-TIPS.
