The biggest challenge after the incident, according to Gainesville Police Officers, was trying to understand what caused the argument that led a 63 year old to shoot another man in the parking lot of the Oaks Mall in Gainesville.

Forrest Dewitt was at Don Pablo's Mexican Restaurant to pick up a pay check, but what he saw through the window, he described as shocking.

"We watched this guy stumble across over here with blood all down his back," Dewitt recalled. "Then he just went into the parking lot and collapsed in somebody's truck."

At approximately 4:40 p.m., investigators say they received a 911 call that David James shot a man outside the Oaks Mall after an argument started.

"We believe this is an isolated incident involving two people that apparently knew each other at some point," Lt. Will Halvosa explained. "Their paths had crossed before and there was a confrontation. It was really isolated to two people."

Exactly what the argument started over has not been made clear, but when the younger man removed his shirt and threatened James, he pulled out a handgun.

"Apparently this was an argument that started between the two of them and Mr. James pulled out a firearm and shot the victim once in the chest," Halvosa said.

After being shot, the victim walked about 100 yards from the northwest corner of the mall parking lot to the Don Pablo's parking area, where responders found him, but Halvosa said the incident did not end there:

"The victim that got shot, his brother apparently was on scene also and he at some point pulled a knife and threatened Mr. James, so that was the end of that confrontation."

Halvosa reported the victim was taken to Shands-UF in stable but critical condition; he said charges were still pending, but the other two men were taken-in for statements and questioning.

The Oaks Mall did not close because of the incident.

By Ted Latiak, WCJB TV20 News.