Lafayette Police At Acadiana Mall Amid Shooting Reports, Lookout For Active Shooter
Lafayette Police responded to shooting reports at the Acadiana Mall on Johnston Street near Ambassador Caffery Parkway on Thursday. In a press release, the department said that no shots were fired and no injuries have been reported yet. However, the mall was evacuated.
This comes after several people on social media said there was an active shooter inside the mall. One person said they were locked inside a store. Others posted that they escaped the mall and were being asked by police to evacuate the parking lot.
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In a press release, the Lafayette Police Department said: "At 5:38 p.m., the Lafayette Police Department responded to the Acadiana Mall at 5725 Johnston Street for reports of an individual inside, possibly armed with a firearm. The Mall has since been evacuated while law enforcement continues an interior sweep of the building. No shots have been fired and there are no injuries at this time."
The department did not provide additional details.
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One witness told KLFY that they heard a gunshot. “I just seen mad people running. So I started to duck too."
Another one added that they were inside the mall when someone yelled 'the cops got guns'. “And then, the next thing you know, I see the three cops with the guns,” the woman said, according to the report.
“And as they were walking towards that area, everything kind of went silent. There wasn’t any like any real, heavy-duty arguing. But we did manage, like, immediately out of nowhere, shots just rang out. Pop out,” a third person told KLFY.
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Police said there is ‘no indication’ that gunshots were fired at Acadiana Mall in Lafayette
LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) — There is a heavy police presence at the Acadiana Mall.
Law enforcement is ordering everyone out of the parking lot.
We have a crew at the scene and will provide updates as information becomes available.
Lafayette police provided the following statement on Facebook:
“The Lafayette Police Department responded to the Acadiana Mall 5725 Johnston Street for reports of an individual inside the mall, possibly armed. The Mall has since been evacuated while law enforcement continues an interior sweep of the building. No shots have been fired and there are no injuries at this time. This is a developing situation and updates will be provided accordingly.“
In a news release, police said they responded to the mall at 5:38 p.m.
On camera interview with media at around 7:20 p.m.:
KLFY Britt Lofaso is our reporter at the scene. She reports:
Law enforcement officers are searching surrounding properties, including Olive Garden and Bushido’s. Officers are manned at all mall entries and exits.
Witnesses tell KLFY that they heard a gunshot.
“I just seen mad people running. So I started to duck too,” one person said.
Another witness said she was inside the mall when she heard someone yell “the cops got guns.”
“And then, the next thing you know, I see the three cops with the guns,” the woman said.
A man, who said he was in the center court managing his booth, when he saw three cops “all loaded, armed to the teeth” walking to the Dillard’s wing.
“And as they were walking towards that area, everything kind of went silent. There wasn’t any like any real, heavy-duty arguing. But we did manage, like, immediately out of nowhere, shots just rang out. Pop out,” he said.
He said he heard at least “at least three or four” but that there could have been more.
A 5-year-old girl said she saw people running “really fast.”
“And everybody’s saying ‘run, run,'” she said.
The girl said she was scared.
“[Because] it was right in front of the workshop we were inside,” the girl explained.
A woman with the young girl said they were at Lids when they heard an argument and then loud noises.
“We didn’t know if it was shots or not and then we just see people running. And that’s when, the fear, you know, we’re just like, on my God. And I take her out the back,” she said.
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