TUKWILA, Wash. — On Saturday evening there was a large police and fire presence at Southcenter Mall in Tukwila after reports of gunshots, which police said was a fight at the food court and not a shooting.
Initial reports said that a shooting had occurred that put the mall on lockdown but police could not verify these claims.
People took to social media and talked about being locked inside stores.
Witnesses told KIRO 7 that they saw people running, including parents with their kids heading for the exits.
“I just heard boom boom boom boom boom and I just see everybody running like the complete opposite way,” said Julio Rojas, an employee at Southcenter Mall. “I just see everybody running, so I’ll try to get people to come inside the store you know cause something bad is happening.”
“My first thing was just like like the fitting room thing and just like get on the bench and just like hide my feet just in case the guy tried to come inside,” said Christian Wagoner, a shopper.
“I just heard a bunch of noise and then I woke up cause I was looking down and you can like like you felt like the ground shaking and everyone like running so then I look up like a stampede just like running out out the food court they’re running in the shops and stuff,” said Jasmine, an employee. “Like if you were to look inside it’s like everything still there like everyone’s food jackets, everyone’s clothes like everything was just like left intact there.”
Tukwila Police has released the following statement:
This evening, officers responded to reports of a fight involving multiple individuals in the food court of the Southcenter Mall. Contrary to some initial reports, officers have found no evidence that any shots were fired and no victims have been found related to the incident with any injuries consistent with gunshot wounds. Due to the nature of the call, multiple agencies responded to assist.
Southcenter Mall was evacuated and was closed for the night.
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