Lakeline Mall closed for night after shooting, no injuries: APD

CEDAR PARK, Texas – Law enforcement officers responded to Lakeline Mall in Cedar Park on Thursday, January 2nd.

The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office, Austin Police Department, Austin Fire Department and ATCEMS all had crews on the scene, according to videos posted by FOX 7 Austin’s Rudy Koski.

18:36

Austin police say Lakeline Mall will remain closed for the rest of Thursday evening while the investigation continues.

18:04

Austin police are asking the public to share photos or videos of the incident with police through this link.

17:17

APD Chief Lisa Davis gave an update at a press conference on the incident.

According to Chief Davis, there was an incident between two groups that resulted in a shot being fired inside the mall’s food court. However, no one was injured and there is no ongoing threat to the community.

The mall has been locked down and officers are currently escorting people outside, Chief Davis said.

No arrests have been made.

17:14

Austin police say family members of people who were inside the Lakeline Mall can pick up their relatives at Savers at 11101 Pecan Park Boulevard.

17:09

APD says the mall will be cleared as a precaution while the investigation continues. Residents are still being asked to avoid the area.

17:05

FOX 7 Austin’s Katie Pratt was live on the scene giving an update on the situation.

17:04

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 mall managers 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 go,” he said. “Pretty crazy.”

Another witness Koski spoke to 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 didn’t see a gun, but her ear still hurt from the loud bang that happened.

17:03

ATCEMS says so far no patients have been found inside the mall, but EMS, police and fire rescue teams are continuing to search the building.

16:40

ATCEMS says they have established a media collection area in Haverty’s Furniture Store opposite the shopping centre.

16:29

According to Koski, tactical units in the mall stage:

16:27

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 avoid the area.

16:15

FOX 7 Austin’s Rudy Koski shared video from the mall on social media showing Williamson County Sheriff’s deputies at the 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 Dillard’s.

“I went outside to poke my head around and there was just a stampede of people running towards us so we just shouted ‘Everybody run’ and we went through the back where there’s some hallways and stuff and staff escorted us out,” he said.

Another witness reported hearing a loud bang while they were inside the restroom at the mall.

“Then we started hearing everybody yelling, everybody screaming, and then we saw this worker running into this exit saying we’re going to go, we’re going to go,” she said.

Crime and Public Safety Cedar Park