AURORA | Police say Kamyl Xavier Garrette, 18, shot and killed a 17-year-old boy Friday afternoon in the J.C. Penney store at the Town Center at Aurora.

Police announced Garrette’s arrest Saturday evening, adding that officials are seeking first-degree murder charges in the case.

“Since more interviews need to be conducted we are not releasing his photo at this time,” police said in a statement.

Aurora officers responded to the J.C. Penney on the south side of the mall shortly after 4 p.m. Dec. 27 after receiving reports of a shooting in the area, according to Officer Tony Camacho, spokesman for the Aurora Police Department.

Responding officers found a boy who had been shot by a person wielding a handgun, Camacho said. The unidentified boy later died at a local hospital.

The Arapahoe County Coroner’s Office is expected to identify the boy in the coming days.

Investigators are continuing to conduct interviews and collect witness statements.

Police believe the shooting was an isolated incident, and investigators do not believe there is any additional threat to the public.

Mall patrons were briefly instructed to shelter in place while police secured the scene, Camacho said. Other portions of the mall have since reopened.

The shooting Friday evening marks the second instance of gunfire at the mall this month.

Camacho reassured residents that the area is a safe place to shop. He said Aurora police have a dedicated officer tasked with patrolling the shopping complex.

“We do feel that people can still come and shop here and bring their families here,” Camacho said.