Arizona mall evacuated after reports of armed man; no suspect found

TEMPE, Ariz. (AZFamily/Gray Information) – Police have not discovered a suspect who reportedly pointed a gun at an additional gentleman and then ran into the Arizona Mills mall on Friday evening.

Officers say all over 6:30 p.m., a gentleman bought into a struggle with quite a few men and women in the vicinity of Starbucks and then pulled out a gun. Following pointing it at yet another person, the suspect then reportedly took off inside the shopping mall.

Officers and shopping mall safety rapidly cleared the mall but did not uncover the armed male or other people included. Tempe police say no injuries have been noted. The mall was reopened soon after safety did a remaining walkthrough.

Law enforcement have not verified if any pictures have been fired inside or outside the house the mall.

“The pictures that they [witnesses] may perhaps have heard have been the substantial protection gates that a great deal of the malls will open up and near with,” Tempe Law enforcement Sgt. Hector Encinas stated.

Various witnesses even now described listening to pictures. A lady claims her family was in the foods courtroom ingesting when they reportedly heard shots.

“We’re sitting down in the booth and we hear growth, increase, increase! And we see folks just jogging in droves out the doorway. They mentioned ‘somebody’s been shot, operate, get out,’” she mentioned.

Store owner Hassan Odeh also witnessed hoards of folks working away.

“50 to 100 folks just jogging from this way across our shop to the suitable. And then some people arrived into the shop and then I told some of my personnel to lock the doorway,” Odeh claimed.

Encinas also verified people today experimented with to just take shelter inside the shopping mall.

Video clip from Arizona’s Family news chopper showed extra than 10 law enforcement automobiles bordering the Entry 3 entrance of the mall. Purchasers were also collected outside close to parts of the mall, while some opted to go away.

Officers are now performing with shop proprietors to get surveillance video clip that could direct to getting the suspect. Tempe Police are inquiring everyone with data contact (480)-350-8311.

Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. via KTVK/KPHO. All rights reserved.