We're learning new details of a chaotic scene inside Hulen Mall on Christmas Eve. Fort Worth Police Ofc. Brad Perez says it started inside a women's restroom at around 4:30 p.m.
"There was a female that was using a public restroom inside this mall," says Ofc. Perez, "when she observed what appeared to be a cell phone that was underneath the wall stall facing her direction. She confronted the suspect who was a male but dressed as a female inside this bathroom."
The woman chased after the man, identified as Douglas Egan, 45, as he tried leaving the mall.
"This one male that was observing this (as it) occurred tried to intervene and went over there and tried to keep the suspect from leaving," says Perez. "And at that point, the suspect reached inside his backpack, and he pulled out a gun and pointed it at the male witness that was there trying to help."
Other witnesses kept an eye on Egan as he changed his clothes outside the mall until officers arrived; and with their help, police found him and arrested him.
Perez says the fake gun that Egan was using will have real consequences.
"The gun in question ended up being a pepper ball gun, but because it was used in the way it was, it was still the right charge as far as aggravated assault with a deadly weapon."
Egan is also charged with improper photo or video.
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