AUSTIN, Texas — The Austin Police Department said one person was injured after a shooting at Barton Creek Square Mall on Saturday afternoon.
APD confirmed the incident, which caused panic among shoppers at the mall, was not an active shooter situation.
Two people got into a fight around 4:40 p.m. and shots were fired, police told KVUE. The person who was shot, an adult, was transported to the hospital with minor, non-life-threatening injuries, Austin-Travis County EMS said.
Two other people were evaluated for minor injuries related to evacuating and refused EMS transport.
Police checked the mall to give the all-clear to shoppers following the shooting. APD said there was no threat to the public.
According to police, four men, two in each group, met up to complete a private sale of merchandise that was being sold on a social media platform. The two groups did not know each other prior to the meeting. After the two groups met up, a physical fight ensued, which escalated into the shooting. The suspects left the scene immediately after the shooting, APD said.
Witnesses on the scene told KVUE they heard three gunshots, which caused shoppers to run, leaving personal items behind. They said people were escorted out after the incident and no one was allowed back inside.
Bella Schulz said she and her boyfriend were at the mall with their son to get Christmas photos taken when they heard the gunfire.
"It was just scary seeing everybody just running to the store, and I'm sitting there like I'm about to take my other car seat and then I see my boyfriend run up to me you know, like, 'They're shooting, they're shooting," said Schulz. "My heart was beating so fast because I didn't know if it was an isolated incident or a mass shooting. I was expecting the worst," said Bella Schulz.
M.J. Andres, who works at the mall, said he was on his break when he saw people scrambling out of the building.
"Everybody ran out. The whole mall cleared out right here at Cheesecake [Factory]. I mean, it's three gunshots, people are going to hear it and just run," said Andres.
Around 6:50 p.m., APD said the mall was reopened except for the entrance and exit near the Cheesecake Factory and the movie theater.
The investigation remains ongoing. APD is coordinating direct patrols to be in the area more frequently.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact APD's aggravated assault unit at 512-974-5245 or submit a tip anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by visiting austincrimestoppers.org or calling 512-472-8477. A reward of up to $1,000 may be available for any information that leads to an arrest.