Man shot near Cherry Hill, New Jersey, strip mall, prosecutor's office says

A man was shot near a Cherry Hill, New Jersey, strip mall Wednesday afternoon, officials said.

The 61-year-old victim was taken to an area hospital and is reportedly in stable condition, the Camden County Prosecutor's Office said.

The shooting happened just before 4 p.m. at Liberty Bell Plaza at 2038 Route 70.

An investigation is underway. No arrests have been made, but investigators believe this is an isolated incident, according to a statement from Camden County Prosecutor Grace C. MacAulay and Cherry Hill Police Chief John Ostermueller. 

The shooting drew a large response from law enforcement. Chopper 3 was over the scene Wednesday afternoon, when several police officers could be seen outside the shops and crime tape surrounded the shopping center. 

The shooting at Liberty Bell Plaza stopped people in their tracks. 

Mimi Tran owns a nearby nail salon and said she heard the shooting and ran outside. That's where she found the 61-year-old man, who was shot, holding his shoulder and asked her to call 911.

Phil Hausler, the owner of Phil's Deli and Market, saw the commotion outside his deli and also ran toward it.

Hausler said one of his regulars had already stepped in to help the man. The deli owner said the area is a popular spot for groups of kids to hang out, and they got really scared.

"They ran inside the store," Wendy Morrow, an employee at the deli, said. "We told them to get inside. They went to the back, and then a couple of girls started crying."

People in the area of the shooting said it's a disturbing reminder of how quickly violence can hit — even in the middle of the day.

"Every area is safe until something happens," Haulser said. "You could go to the safest parts of America, and this is going to happen somewhere."