Raleigh police seek help locating ‘origin of sound’ that panicked Crabtree mall shoppers

Police are still trying to determine what caused the “loud noise” reported as gunshots at Crabtree Valley Mall on Saturday afternoon and are asking for the public’s help.

Police say they still have found no evidence of gunfire, including shell casings or gunshot victims. After interviewing witnesses, police concluded “there remains no explanation for the loud noise that people reported,” said spokesman Jim Sughrue.

Eight people endured minor injuries, mainly in the rush to leave the mall, Police Chief Cassandra Deck-Brown said the day of the incident.

Someone first called 911 at 2:30 p.m. Saturday to report gunshots in the mall. Information about the “shooting” took on a life of its own, fueled by social media. Less than 30 minutes after the first 911 call, shoppers were being contacted by media outlets throughout the country.

Raleigh police, mindful of recent mass shootings in Orlando, Fla., and San Bernardino, Calif., responded in force and called on federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to help evacuate the mall and search for the supposed shooter. Similar incidents took place Sunday at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York, where police responded to what turned out to be false reports of shootings there.

Raleigh police still urge anyone with more information concerning the origin of the sound Saturday at the mall to call Raleigh CrimeStoppers at 919-834-4357, or visit raleighcrimestoppers.org for text and email reporting options. CrimeStoppers pays cash rewards for anonymous tips that help solve cases.

This story was originally published August 15, 2016 at 6:36 PM with the headline "Raleigh police seek help locating ‘origin of sound’ that panicked Crabtree mall shoppers."