What to Know
- The Lehigh Valley Mall was evacuated after shoppers were told to shelter-in-place after gunshots were fired
- Police have not heard of anyone injured from the shots
- There was no immediate word Saturday on a suspect or suspects who fired the shots.
The Lehigh Valley Mall was evacuated Saturday night when multiple shots were fired on the lower level near a sporting goods store, according to police.
Customers sheltered in place and were eventually evacuated as dozens of police cars from multiple agencies flocked to the scene after 5 p.m., Whitehall Township Police Chief Michael Marks told reporters as an NBC10 camera was rolling.
Marks did not say how many shots were fired or who fired them. Those were among many details investigators were still learning Saturday night after what the chief called a "chaotic" situation. Police were focused on making sure people were reunited with their families after being interviewed and stuck inside for a few hours.
“Right now, that is our primary focus, is making sure that everybody’s safe and sound and we get everybody accounted for outside the mall and in the mall area," Marks said.
A group of shoppers told NBC10 that they took cover in a store until they were told they could leave.
Video shared with NBC10 by a Twitter user shows law enforcement personnel carrying long guns through the mall near the JC Penney store.
Investigators are looking at surveillance video from inside the mall, but also could use any smartphone videos that may have been taken inside, Marks said.
Anyone wishing to share those videos should call Whitehall Township Police's main line at 610-437-3042 or Lehigh County Dispatch at 610-437-5252.
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Marks said the mall was believed to be empty as of 8 p.m. Before the shots broke out, it was "fairly crowded for a weekend night, as packed as it can be...business as normal."
