Apple Permanently Closes Store in North Carolina After Shootings, In A Rare Move

Apple Inc AAPL shut down one of its retail stores in Charlotte, North Carolina, after the corresponding mall suffered at least three shootings in recent months.
The iPhone maker informed the store's employees on Wednesday that the location would be closing immediately, Bloomberg reports citing familiar sources.
Apple updated its website after informing its employees about permanently shutting the Northlake Mall in Mecklenburg County.
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The shootings at the mall contributed to the decision, sources said.
Apple told employees that it would transfer the staff at the Northlake Mall site to the nearby SouthPark location in Charlotte or roles working at the company's online store.
Apple also prepared to inaugurate a new location in Charlotte in 2024 to replace the Northlake Mall store before the recent shootings.
"In preparation for a new store we plan to open in the Charlotte area early next year, we will be closing Apple Northlake on March 2," the company stated.
Reportedly shots were fired outside of a Macy's Inc M at the Northlake Mall on Tuesday, while another shooting occurred in early February. There were additional shootings reported in December and 2021.
Apple, which operates about 270 retail locations in the US, rarely closes stores.
Price Action: AAPL shares traded lower by 0.78% at $144.19 on the last check Thursday.
Image by Matias Cruz from Pixabay