text: The Melbourne Square Mall reopened at noon Sunday, one day after a shooting in its food court that left two people dead, including the gunman, and one injured. 
   
   Inside, candles and flowers covered the counter of the pizza restaurant that remained closed, according to media reports. 
   
   Armed with a handgun and pockets full of ammunition, Jose Garcia-Rodriguez walked into the mall Saturday morning and shot his wife, another man, then himself, police say. 
   
   The shooting left gunman Garcia-Rodriguez, 57, of Palm Bay and Leonardo Coppola, 36, of West Melbourne dead, said Cmdr. Vince Pryce of the Melbourne Police Department. 
   
   Garcia Rodriguez's wife, 33-year-old Idanerys Garcia-Rodriguez, an employee in the mall's food court, survived and remains in good condition at a local hospital, Pryce said. 
   
   Coppola, 36, of West Melbourne, owned a restaurant in the food court. He was shot as he tried to move Idanerys Garcia-Rodriguez out of harm's way, police said Sunday. 
   
   Melbourne Police Department Leonardo Coppola was shot and killed Saturday at the Melbourne Square mall. Leonardo Coppola was shot and killed Saturday at the Melbourne Square mall. (Melbourne Police Department) 
   
   As the 9:30 a.m. Saturday shooting unfolded, about 100 people who were in the mall rushed to hide or escape, Pryce said. It was unclear how many gunshots were fired. 
   
   "We were still hearing shots when the first officers arrived on scene," Pryce said. "The officers quickly assembled into active shooting teams and entered the mall." 
   
   Police made sure there was no longer a threat, then went through every store in the mall, evacuating workers and others who hid in closets for safety, Pryce said. 
   
   Jeff Gross, an employee at Rodizio Grill, a Brazilian steakhouse in the mall, was in the back preparing food when he heard the gunshots erupt. 
   
   Melbourne Police Department Jose Garcia Rodriguez Jose Garcia Rodriguez (Melbourne Police Department) 
   
   "An employee came to the back, and he said, 'Somebody has a gun in the food court,'" Gross recalls. "'We've got to get out of here.'" 
   
   They ran out of the restaurant to safety, said Gross, 22, of Melbourne. 
   
   "It was just really scary," he said. "You always have to be prepared for stuff like that. Never leave home without saying goodbye to the people you love." 
   
   Guns, pockets full of ammo 
   
   When officers found the three victims, Jose Garcia-Rodriguez "had several pockets full of ammunition," Pryce said. 
   
   Police said investigators also found three handguns at the site, along with the ammunition, thought to belong to the suspect. 
   
   "We believe this may stem from a domestic-violence incident," Pryce said about the motive for the shooting. "The survivor is the intended victim." 
   
   Florida Today reported that neighbors commented that the couple spent a lot of time together, that they held hands often, and that Garcia-Rodriguez often spoke highly of his wife. 
   
   Melbourne Mayor Kathy Meehan said police told her Coppola, a co-worker of Idanerys Garcia-Rodriguez's, was killed when he grabbed for the gun from her husband. 
   
   Police confirmed Sunday that Coppola, the operator of a food court restaurant, was attempting to move Idanerys Garcia-Rodriguez out of harm's way when he was shot. 
   
   Meehan was at a different mall for a ribbon-cutting ceremony when she found out about the shooting. 
   
   "We're still in shock," she said. "We're a small town. It's just hard to believe that it happened." 
   
   The shooting drew a massive response from law enforcement. Officials from the FBI; Florida Department of Law Enforcement; federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; West Melbourne Police Department; Palm Bay Police Department; and the mall's security staff helped clear the scene and interview witnesses. 
   
   Members of the Brevard County Sheriff's Office bomb squad also arrived at the mall and searched a vehicle belonging to one of the people shot, Pryce said. Nothing suspicious or dangerous was found in the vehicle, he said. 
   
   "These are the kinds of incidents that we plan for, we train for, but we hope we never have to deal with," Melbourne police Chief Steve Mimbs said. 
   
   'You just drop everything' 
   
   Donna Evans of Melbourne was in the food court when she heard gunfire about 20 feet to 25 feet away. 
   
   "We had just gotten our food to sit down by Starbucks and Chick-fil-A, and you just hear the 'pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop,' and you just drop everything, and your body just makes you run," Evans said. 
   
   This is not the first shooting inside the Melbourne Square mall. 
   
   Fifteen years ago, another gunman caused panic at the Melbourne Square mall when he ran through a department store with a handgun. 
   
   Kevin Thompson had been arrested and charged with lewd and lascivious behavior and was out on bail Oct. 17, 2000, when he heard his bond was being revoked. Thompson saw a bail bondsman approaching him in the mall parking lot and got mad at his father, who told authorities where he was, police said at the time. 
   
   He chased his father through Dillard's with a handgun and led police into a standoff. He committed suicide six hours later. 
   
   The Associated Press contributed to this report. glotan@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5774 ||||| Two people are dead and a woman is in "good" condition after a shooting Saturday morning at the Melbourne Square mall. 
   
   
   
   It happened around 9:30 a.m., in the mall's food court at 1700 W. New Haven Ave. 
   
   Police identified the suspected shooter as Jose Garcia-Rodriguez, 57, of Palm Bay. One of the victims is believed to be the shooter's wife, 33-year-old Idanerys Garcia-Rodriguez. She's listed in good condition. Police said the woman worked at the mall's food court. 
   
   
   
   The other victim who was killed is a male, but his identity hasn't been released. 
   
   
   
   Police said Jose shot Idanerys and the man before shooting himself. Investigators believe he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. 
   
   
   
   "This is a tragic event, and I am sending prayers to the family," Melbourne Mayor Kathy Meehan said. 
   
   
   
   The mall was closed for the remainder of the day, but it is expected to reopen Sunday. 
   
   
   
   "We started hearing 'pop, pop,'" said Elizabeth Tickle, who was inside the mall. "I figured somebody was shooting somebody. It's going on all the time now. (How many pop pops did you think you heard?) I think about six. It was a lot. It was a lot." 
   
   
   
   About 100 people were inside the mall at the time gunfire broke out, police said. Gunshots were still being heard when officers arrived to the scene. 
   
   
   
   The shooting is believed to be a domestic violence-related incident, investigators said. 
   
   Neighbors said Jose was a "good guy" and that he was close to his wife and two teenage daughters. 
   
   "It blows my mind," said Nick Csercse Jr., who lives next door to the family. "(Jose) was just a really good guy." 
   
   Another neighbor, Raymond Jacobs, said: "They gave my grandson ice cream. They used to sell ice cream. They were good people. This is just shocking." 
   
   Several agencies, including the FBI, were at the mall Saturday investigating the deadly shooting. Three firearms, all handguns, were found at the mall, police said. 
   
   
   
   Any witnesses are asked to call the Melbourne Police Department at (321) 608-6731. 
   
   Anyone who left their vehicle in the mall parking lot or left belongings inside the mall is asked to contact Melbourne Square mall security at (321) 952-0583. ||||| Witnesses described panic and chaos moments after police said a man opened fire inside the food court at Melbourne Square Mall Saturday. 
   
   "They were just yelling, 'Run, people are dying, people are getting shot,'” said Brittany Brown. 
   
   
   
   Brown was getting ready for work when she heard the shots and ran to safety. 
   
   
   
   “I'm still kind of shaken up,' she said. "It just happened all real fast." 
   
   
   
   Witnesses report hearing multiple shots fired about 9:30 a.m., a half hour before the mall opened. 
   
   
   
   Police say 57-year-old Jose Garcia-Rodriguez began firing in the shopping mall, shooting his wife who worked at the food court and an unidentified man, before turning the gun on himself. 
   
   The man was pronounced dead at the scene; Garcia-Rodriguez died at the hospital. 
   
   Police said the shooter's 33-year-old wife is at the hospital recovering in good condition. 
   
   Authorities said they are unsure of the motive for the shooting, but believe it stemmed from a domestic situation. 
   
   
   
   With the mall locked down, investigators searched one of the victim's cars, looking for clues. 
   
   Police say about a hundred people were inside at the time. 
   
   Multiple law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, rushed to respond. 
   
   Officers reported hearing gun shots when they arrived and officials said three handguns were recovered from the shooter, who also had a pocket full of ammunition. 
   
   
   
   “These are the kind of incidents we plan for, we train for, but we hope we never have to deal with,” Chief Steve Mimbs said. 
   
   
   
   No one else was injured. 
   
   At the couple's Palm Bay home, an angel statute sits in the yard. Neighbors are stunned. 
   
   
   
   "Now it's kind of sinking in and it's like I talk to that guy all the time," said Nick CSerce. "How could you do something like that? I just can't believe it.” 
   
   Video from the scene | Watch news briefing |Witness accounts 
   
   Images: Mall shooting investigation
target: – Two people are dead and one wounded after a shooting inside a mall in Melbourne, Florida, reports the Orlando Sentinel. The shooting took place about 9:30am at the food court in the Melbourne Square Mall, and police say the shooter is believed to be one of the victims. A witness tells WESH that a gunman shot two people and then killed himself. Police evacuated the mall but haven't released details yet on the victims or a motive. The survivor is in stable condition and able to talk to investigators. "We started hearing 'pop, pop,'" another witness tells MyNews13. "I figured somebody was shooting somebody. It's going on all the time now."