A post-mortem examination was due to take place today on the body of a 22-year-old man who died during a shooting incident at a shopping centre in Carlow town on Sunday evening.
The body of Evan Fitzgerald, who was from near Kiltegan in Co Wicklow, was removed from the scene yesterday afternoon to Dublin, where a post-mortem was due to be carried out by State Pathologist Dr Heidi Okkers.
Mr Fitzgerald was out on bail on firearms charges and the garda investigation will look at how he came to obtain the shotgun, which was fired into the air at the Fairgreen Shopping Centre, before he died from a self-inflicted wound.
At a press conference yesterday, gardaí said that the shooting incident was "a terrifying experience for every person that was present".
Gardaí said they had received multiple reports of shots fired in the Fairgreen Shopping Centre in the town and responded to the scene, where they were met with a large number of people running from the premises.
An unarmed uniformed unit arrived, where they observed the suspect exiting the shopping centre.
The suspect then discharged a shotgun into the air.
Another plain-clothed armed garda unit responded with their official firearms and identified themselves as armed gardaí.
No shots were fired by gardaí during the incident.
Mr Fitzgerald was described as having a fascination with guns when he was granted bail for firearm offences last year.
Gardaí told a court he had apparently obtained guns for recreational use and not with criminal intent. He was granted bail on strict conditions.
Assistant Garda Commissioner Paula Hilman from the Eastern Region said gardaí now understand that Mr Fitzgerald walked through the shopping centre and had discharged the firearm into the air on a number of occasions.
She said nobody was injured by the shots.
A young girl in the shopping centre with her parents sustained a minor leg injury when she fell while running from the scene.
Following the incident, gardaí implemented a cordon around the shopping centre and car park.
A bottle containing an unknown substance was observed by gardaí on Mr Fitzgerald's body.
The army bomb disposal unit subsequently conducted examinations and declared the scene safe.
Emergency services responded to the shooting shortly after 6pm on Sunday.
An incident room has been established at Carlow Garda Station, with a senior investigating officer appointed to lead the investigation.
A family liaison officer is providing support to Mr Fitzgerald's family, gardaí said.
Meanwhile, Carlow County Council said it is supporting the HSE in the provision of psycho-social supports for people affected by the shooting incident.
Further support is being provided today by the HSE at the Shamrock Plaza Primary Care Centre for those impacted by the incident.
Gardaí have urged anyone who may have recorded footage of the incident not to share it on social media platforms or messaging apps, but instead to provide it to gardaí at Carlow Garda Station.
Gardaí are continuing to appeal for information from anyone who was at the shopping centre between 6pm and 6.30pm on Sunday.
They have also praised the management and business community at the shopping centre for their assistance, and said gardaí will work with the local community as it comes to terms with this incident.
Anyone with information can contact Carlow Garda Station at 059-9136620 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.
