AUBURN HILLS (WWJ) -- As Auburn Hills police officers broke up a fight at Great Lakes Crossing Saturday, someone yelled "shots fired," triggering panic and chaos and allowing two teen girls who had been handcuffed to flee the scene of the initial disturbance.
On Apr. 8, several cops were in the food court at Great Lakes Crossing -- located on Baldwin Rd, just south of I-75 -- conducting a routine investigation into a reported theft.
Authorities said an unrelated fight broke out among a group of teenagers and that police stepped in to break up the brawl. At one point, an officer used a taser on one of the young people involved.
During the skirmish, someone called out, "Shots fired!"
Mall-goers panicked and rushed to get outside. Calls flooded in to 911 dispatchers with reports of an active shooter inside the mall.
In the chaos, the officers handling the scuffle were overwhelmed by the large crowd running, police said. They called for backup, and law enforcement from several cities in Oakland County responded to assist.
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Following a search of Great Lakes Crossing, it was confirmed that no one had fired a gun and that no one had been injured, according to the police department.
Auburn Hills PD are now working to locate two teenage girls who had been handcuffed during the fight and who ran off in the aftermath of the false shooter report.
Though investigators do not believe the juveniles are responsible for yelling "shots fired," they ask that they contact the Auburn Hills Police Department immediately to "reduce any embarrassment that could take place during the investigation."
Law enforcement is also working with the Security Department at Great Lakes Crossing to analyze video footage and identify the person responsible for inciting panic by falsely yelling that someone had opened fire in the mall.
Anyone who witnessed any part of Saturday's incident or has information about the two individuals in question can call Auburn Hills PD at 248-370-9444.
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