Because the Inland Empire has not been through enough this week, three men with sledgehammers caused panic and a huge police response at The Galleria at Tyler Mall in Riverside.
The moment I finally got to leave the Tyler Mall and this is what I see pic.twitter.com/ghBTpTPhFW
— Mia (@miasparadise) December 7, 2015
Police were called at about 6:30 p.m. after witnesses reported hearing shots fired in the area. Authorities now believe those “shots” were actually sledgehammers smashing glass at a the Ben Bridge jewelry store.
Riverside, California. @ABC7 pic.twitter.com/HnyeEe3Eat
— GABBY ROJA$ (@gabbyrojasss) December 7, 2015
Enormous police response at #TylerMall in #Riverside – View from our @NBCLA Chopper 4. pic.twitter.com/mjY6UtAdQs
— Gadi Schwartz (@GadiNBC) December 7, 2015
Shoppers reported on social media that the mall was on lockdown and that there was a huge police presence. They also said that there was a great deal of concern and panic.
“The women were kicking off their high heels so that they could run faster and shoppers were dropping their bags and taking off. I called 911 and the line was busy. I tried again and I got through and the person said there were shots fired, please get out of the mall. People were tripping over each other. Several people were trampled. No one tried to help anyone else get up,” Lissette Medina told The LA Times.
Code 4 at the #TylerMall #Riverside pic.twitter.com/ms5gLCIfng
— Gadi Schwartz (@GadiNBC) December 7, 2015
The LA Times reports that the suspects fled the mall, but their escape vehicle has been found.
