Lakeline Mall closed for the night after shot fired, no injuries: APD
CEDAR PARK, Texas - Law enforcement responded to Lakeline Mall in Cedar Park on Thursday, Jan. 2.
The Williamson County Sheriff's Office, Austin Police Department, Austin Fire Department and ATCEMS all had crews on scene, according to videos posted by FOX 7 Austin's Rudy Koski.
6:36 p.m.
Austin police say that Lakeline Mall will remain closed for the rest of Thursday night as the investigation continues.
6:04 p.m.
Austin police is asking the public to share any photos or video of the incident with law enforcement through this link.
5:17 p.m.
APD Chief Lisa Davis gave an update in a press conference about the incident.
According to Chief Davis, there was an incident between two groups which resulted in a shot being fired inside the mall's food court. However, no one was hurt and there is no ongoing threat to the community.
The mall has been locked down and officers are currently escorting people outside, said Chief Davis.
No arrests have been made.
5:14 p.m.
Austin police say that family members of people who were inside Lakeline Mall can pick up their relatives at Savers at 11101 Pecan Park Boulevard.
5:09 p.m.
APD says the mall will be cleared as a precaution while the investigation continues. Residents are still being asked to avoid the area.
5:05 p.m.
FOX 7 Austin's Katie Pratt was live on scene, giving an update on the situation.
Large police presence at Lakeline Mall in Cedar Park
Police are responding to an incident at Lakeline Mall in Cedar Park, Texas. Austin police say on social media that officers are responding to a "shoot/stab hotshot" at the mall, but add that this is an isolated incident and does not appear to be an active shooter. APD is asking the public to please avoid the area.
5:04 p.m.
FOX 7 Austin's Rudy Koski spoke with a store manager who reported hearing a "loud bang" and seeing a lot of people running.
He says he heard from other managers at the mall that there was a fight in the bathroom between four guys.
"One of the guys got the better of the other guy and pulled out a gun and let it off," he said. "Pretty crazy."
Another witness Koski spoke with said she was coming from the food court area where there was a fight between two men and then she and her friend heard a really loud bang, and they just ran.
She says she did not see a gun, but her ear was still hurting from the loud bang that happened.
5:03 p.m.
ATCEMS says that no patients have been found so far inside the mall, but EMS, police and fire rescue task forces are continuing to search the building.
4:40 p.m.
ATCEMS says they have established a media staging area at the Havertys Furniture store across from the mall.
4:29 p.m.
According to Koski, tactical units are staging at the mall:
4:27 p.m.
Austin police say on social media that officers are responding to a "shoot/stab hotshot" at the mall, but add that this is an isolated incident and does not appear to be an active shooter.
APD is asking the public to please avoid the area.
4:15 p.m.
FOX 7 Austin's Rudy Koski shared video from the mall on social media, showing Williamson County Sheriff's deputies on scene.
Koski also spoke with someone who was inside the mall who said he heard a loud bang while inside Claire's on the lower level near the Dillard's.
"I went outside to stick my head around and there was just a stampede of people running towards us, so we just yelled ‘Everybody run’ and we went through the back, where there's some hallways and stuff and employees escorted us out," he said.
Another witness reported hearing a big bang while inside the restroom at the mall.
"Then we started hearing everybody yelling, everybody screaming, and then we saw this worker who ran into this exit and was like, we gotta leave, we gotta leave," she said.
The Source: Information in this report comes from law enforcement and reporting by FOX 7 Austin.