Florida – Boca Raton police responded to reports of shots fired at the Town Center Mall on Sunday afternoon. One person was hospitalized from a “possible gunshot wound,” but there was no active shooter. (wptv) and (wtsp).
Update: Police stated that the man who was hospitalized actually hit his head when he panicked after hearing a loud noise. No active shooter, no gun involved.
Boca Raton Fire and Rescue stated that one person with a gunshot wound was transported, but later, police changed that to a “possible” gunshot wound.
Correction: One person with a POSSIBLE gunshot wound transported to Delray Medical Center.
SWAT teams are continuing to clear the mall and evacuate people. If you are still in the mall, please stay sheltered in place until officers evacuate you. @BocaPolice
— Boca Raton Police (@BocaPolice) October 13, 2019
Officials in Boca Raton are now saying the person taken to the hospital has trauma. Didn’t go into specifics. They won’t say gunshot wound anymore. Unclear if any shot was fired at the mall. @CBSMiami
— Ty Russell (@TRussellCBS4) October 13, 2019
Updating-no active shooter. Report of shots fired. One person with gunshot wound transported to Delray Medical Center. SWAT teams grid searching mall. If in mall shelter in place until officers reach you to evacuate you @bocapolice
— Boca Raton Police (@BocaPolice) October 13, 2019
The mall went into lockdown immediately upon reports of gunfire. People were stuck in locked stores as SWAT went through the mall in order to clear the area. Police evacuated the people store by store. Ambulance, Boca Raton fire -rescue, Boca Raton PD, & Delray Beach PD were on scene, as the ATF was enroute. Police still asked the public to avoid the area, even though the mall was evacuated.
Hi Lauren. We don’t have a time frame because evacuation procedures are methodical to ensure everyone’s safety. Thank you for your patience and cooperation. You will be escorted to a debriefing location and then released from the scene. @BocaPolice https://t.co/Z2h2f97BPD
— Boca Raton Police (@BocaPolice) October 13, 2019
Locals took cell phone images of the heavy police presence. No weapons were recovered at the scene.
Swat Team going in for active shooter #bocaraton pic.twitter.com/bttJQsKLpA
— Rachel Cohn (@umdontbejelly) October 13, 2019
My roommate was inside the Boca Mall when shooting occurred about 3 pm near Lululemon and Art of Shaving. Sounded like pops, not automatic gunfire. One person shot. Condition unknown. People inside have been taken to nearby restaurant to speak w/ police.
— Christine Stapleton (@StapletonPBPost) October 13, 2019
While most civilians don’t know the difference between sounds of a shooting and something else, that this incident sounded like “pops” may indicate something other than gunfire. The updated police statement that a person had “trauma” is also an indication of something else being involved. We’ll update this story when we have more information.
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