A smoke shop employee was seriously injured while confronting a suspected thief outside of the store, according to Jacksonville police.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Saturday afternoon shooting at a Lakeshore shopping plaza has left two people seriously injured and shaken a community that thought the area was safe.

According to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, a smoke shop clerk in his early 20s confronted someone suspected of stealing in the parking lot outside the store on Shirley Avenue. Police said that’s when a second man pulled a gun and opened fire.

Police said there was an exchange of gunfire, and the smoke shop clerk was shot in the chest and taken to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. Authorities said another man, also in his early 20s, was shot in the abdomen and remains in critical condition.

Roni Masabani, a coworker of the injured clerk, said the two were close and that the shooting left him worried.

“I just hope he, like, makes it through because he’s in a life-threatening situation, my boy Matt,” Masabani said.

The smoke shop opened just six months ago, and Masabani said the shooting has already made customers hesitant to enter, even though the incident occurred in the parking lot.

“We have nothing to rob in here. We have nothing but vapes. So nothing worth losing your life.”

The plaza is home to family-oriented businesses, including a gymnastics studio, karate school, doggy daycare, and a church. Residents and business owners said they are still shocked.

Ronni Monday, a longtime resident, said he regularly visits the area and was stunned by the violence.

“I was sad about it. You know hope somebody, you know hope they live, and you know hope they’re all right. And it was just a shock to me, because I’ve been on this side of town for that long, and they heard nothing or seen nothing,” he said.

Mark Costley, a karate instructor who moved his business to the plaza last year, echoed the sentiment.

“I’m extremely surprised. Actually, we don’t have anything like that. A lot of businesses have been around here, and they’ve never had any problems,” Costley said.

Police said the investigation is ongoing, and several people were detained for questioning. No arrests were immediately announced Monday.