Lucero Mitzy Solis was in the Samsung Experience Store at The Galleria in Houston on Saturday afternoon when the sound of screaming came out and a rush of people appeared. Then Solis heard two words.
“The employees quickly ran backwards and allowed the few of us in there to run in with them,” Solis said.
Around 3:30 p.m., Houston police began receiving reports of shots being fired at the mall, which according to numerous reports on social media were full of people. An hour later, authorities found no victims of shots or evidence pointing to a shooting. But against witnesses, chaos, panic, fear and confusion have already run out of parking garages and social media, where unconfirmed reports of an active shooter have spread to thousands.
Even after police in Houston called the situation steady early Saturday night, it was unclear what exactly triggered the alarm.
“Up to this point, we are not yet aware of the situation that caused the chaos, but even if there was a firearm involved or not, I’m sure no one would stay and wait to find out,” Solis said. said. “To be honest, I do not want to wish anyone that fear.”
One witness described how hundreds of people all walked in the same direction, and some stumbled over each other. Several tried to make calls. Others cried.
Blayne Palomino, a 20-year-old who went to school in Austin and was in town for the weekend, was on the second floor walking with friends on his way to the Apple store.
“We hear riots,” Palomino said. “What is happening?”
A group of people run past.
“We just did not know what was going on,” Palomino said.
Palomino started running while people were screaming. Between words, ‘Shooter, active shooter’ and ‘A Fight’s going on’ between the pieces Palomino remembered.
“I was just in flight mode,” Palomino said. “If some people run, I’m going to run.”
A shopping center spokesman quoted a reporter as saying in a statement from Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo about authorities not “firing shots”.
“The situation is stable with no injuries,” Acevedo said in a tweet. “Please always report suspicious activity to law enforcement.”
Meanwhile, another tweet with a video of people running and screaming was watched nearly 400,000 times before being apparently removed.
At the Samsung store where Solis and his family bought new phones, parents held children and couples held on to each other.
“The thoughts in our minds were to run, just when we felt safe, everyone started investigating each other,” Solis said. “It was scary.”