Police in Boca Raton, Fla., have confirmed there is no active shooter after they responded to reports of possible shots fired at a mall on Sunday afternoon.
Police had reported that one person with a possible gunshot wound had been taken to hospital, but by Sunday night, they said that person had actually hit their head on a door while trying to leave the premises, according to the Associated Press.
Boca Raton Police Chief Dan Alexander said the man was taken to a hospital.
SWAT teams had searched the mall while officers advised people inside to shelter themselves where they were until authorities evacuated them.
Alexander told reporters late Sunday evening that police found no evidence to confirm the initial report of shots fired. Authorities are still looking at surveillance video from the mall to figure out the source of the loud noise that caused a Sunday afternoon panic.
“Some noise went off. We have not recovered any shell casings, or any rounds of ammunition. We are characterizing it as a suspicious incident,” he told reporters Sunday evening.
Some people posted video on social media showing what they said were cars streaming away from the mall as armed police arrived. Other online posts showed footage of people hurrying away on foot.
Though many left the mall immediately Sunday afternoon, some were still inside hours later as they still awaited evacuation, Alexander said. He urged those still inside to remain patient while police continued an exhaustive search to “clear every single space.”
The police chief also said federal, county and other law enforcement agencies were assisting in the investigation.
— With files by The Associated Press
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