AUBURN HILLS (WWJ) – Chaos broke out Saturday at Great Lakes Crossing in Auburn Hills as holiday shoppers fled what they believed was an active shooter.
With hundreds of Metro Detroiters at the mall to get pictures with Santa Claus, a commotion began around 6 p.m. when people started running in the mall, yelling there was an active shooter.
Auburn Hills police officials confirmed to WWJ on Sunday the incident was started by a group of teens or young adults who were fighting, reportedly in the food court, according to social media posts.
There were no injuries reported during the chaos and no one was arrested, as everyone had fled the scene.
It was not immediately clear whether police are still searching for those involved in the fight, or what sparked the incident.
“What started as a great night, turned horrible & scary in an instant,” Robbie Archer said in a social media post, noting his kids were terrified as his family ran out of the mall and into the parking lot.
“For anyone who hasn’t, I would highly suggest having a ‘what if’ conversation with your family,” the post said.
In another post on Facebook, one woman said “didn’t know that taking pictures with Santa would turn into a s*** show.”
Police have not released any other details about the incident.
This isn't the first such incident at Great Lakes Crossing, as false reports of an active shooter sent the mall into a frenzy in July, just three months after another fight in April prompted similar scenes.