Mall Of America Is Safe, 1 In Custody: Cops

BLOOMINGTON, MN — Bloomington police said the reports of shots fired that shut down transit and roads near Mall of America for over an hour Friday afternoon were false, but one person is in custody.

Police tweeted at 6:12 p.m. it was only a "youth fight that has been broken up" and no weapons were involved. Police said there is "no further threat to the community."

At about 4:45 p.m., police closed down the entrance to the mall, and nearby roads due to a possible gunman. Police also called in crisis negotiators to deal with a possible armed suspect near the Mall of America’s circus tent.

The Level North One entrance to the Mall of America is closed, but the rest of the mall is open, Fox9 reporter Seth Kaplan tweeted at 5:28 p.m.

“We are currently in the area of American Boulevard and 24th Avenue,” the department tweeted at 4:45 p.m. Friday. “An individual has what is believed to be a firearm. Roads are shut down. Please avoid the area.”

Police said at 4:52 that crisis negotiators are communicating with the man and attempting to negotiate a surrender.

Metro Transit said at 4:50 that buses are detoured out of the Mall of America Transit Station until later today due to police activity. Passengers can stop at a temporary 30th Avenue Station, although Blue Line trains continue to serve the Mall of America station. The agency has not yet said whether it is running on normal schedule.

A Twitter user posted this video of armored vehicles and empty roads near the mall.

The mall has been the site of several recent shootings. In December, five people were arrested in connection with a shooting that killed 19-year-old Johntae Hudson of St. Paul.

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