Lake Charles, Louisiana - A shooting incident occurred in the parking lot of the Prien Lake Mall on Saturday afternoon, prompting a swift response from the Lake Charles Police Department. Although bullet casings were seen on the ground near the entrance to Versona, a popular retail store, authorities confirmed that no victims were reported.
The Lake Charles Police Department took control of the situation, surrounding the Versona entrance and worked in conjunction with the Calcasieu Sheriff's Office, which responded to the area near Dillard's.
Investigators reached out to local hospitals to check if any individuals with gunshot wounds had been brought in by private means.
Despite some social media posts suggesting an active shooter situation, police on the scene emphasized that this was not the case. An active shooter situation is typically defined as an incident in which an individual is actively engaging in harming or attempting to harm people in a populated area.
The mall was temporarily closed as police conducted a thorough search of the premises. However, after clearing the area, it was reopened, although some stores chose to close for the day as a precaution.
Eyewitness accounts described a chaotic scene, with some shoppers visibly shaken. However, others reported seeing people walking around the mall with their shopping bags, seemingly unaffected by the incident. One employee at a store in the mall stated that everything was closed during the incident, and law enforcement was ensuring their safety.
A shopper who was present at Dillard's during the incident said, "We were at Dillard's, didn't hear shots but we evacuated! It was the most scary experience."