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Incident at Opry Mills Mall Sparks Panic, No Evidence of Gunfire
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Emergency responders descended upon Opry Mills Mall on Saturday afternoon following reports that shots had been fired. However, police officials confirmed that these rumors were unfounded, clarifying that no shooting had occurred at the mall.
Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) Public Information Officer Kris Mumford reported that officers arrived at the scene around 2:15 p.m. after receiving alarming reports. “Fortunately, it turned out that these claims were not accurate,” Mumford stated.
The MNPD later posted on social media, detailing that a fight had broken out inside a Chili’s restaurant. This altercation involved a woman assaulting her boyfriend who was employed there, prompting a chaotic scene as patrons rushed to evacuate the mall or sought shelter. “Contrary to the rumors, we have found no evidence of gunfire,” read the MNPD’s post on X shortly before 3 p.m.
Mumford elaborated that while the fight did escalate, it was the chaos and fear stemming from the incident that led to the widespread belief that shots were fired. “With recent events, it’s understandable for people to feel anxious in such situations,” he noted, mentioning that ongoing investigations could potentially provide clarity on whether people mistook the sounds of the disturbance for gunfire.
Authorities at the scene were quick to assess injuries, revealing that several individuals suffered minor scrapes while evacuating, but no serious injuries required hospitalization. Kendra Loney with the Nashville Fire Department confirmed that despite some heightened anxiety, all individuals were accounted for without major incident.
Local witnesses recounted a sense of fear as events unfolded. Andrew Margerison described hearing “a distinctive seven pops” while dining with his family, which made them initially uncertain about the nature of the noises. Another witness, identified as Ladonte, shared that they were instructed to evacuate rapidly, heightening the panic as people rushed towards exits.
Law enforcement confirmed that Opry Mills was evacuated and secured during the investigation, with officials ensuring that everyone was safely accounted for. Although police indicated there was no evidence corroborating the reports of gunfire, many witnesses insisted they heard gunfire or were informed there was a shooting.
Traffic around Opry Mills was also affected; exits on Interstate 40 were temporarily closed while investigators worked the scene. The Tennessee Department of Transportation announced that both northbound and southbound exits to the mall would be reopened later in the evening.
Public transport services near the mall were suspended during the incident, though they were expected to resume the following day.
As details surrounding the incident remain limited, investigators continue to delve further into the circumstances that led to the escalation of the disturbance within the mall. No further updates about the incident were available at the time of this report.
This is a developing story. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
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