Milpitas Police: No Shooting Following Report of 'Active Situation' at Great Mall

MILPITAS (CBS SF) -- Police in Milpitas evacuated the sprawling Great Mall early Friday evening on a report of a shooting inside one of the regional shopping center's anchor stores but an investigation turned up nothing, according to police.

Milpitas police received a call at 5:30 p.m. about an altercation in the mall involving someone brandishing a knife. A shooting inside the Burlington Coat Factory store was then reported minutes later.

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"Shortly after a shooting was reported inside of Burlington Coat Factory," Milpitas PD tweeted, "Officers have checked the business and there is no indication a shooting occurred inside."

Police went on to say they were "in the process of checking the entire mall out of an abundance of caution" after receiving conflicting information.

But after a search, the all clear was given.

"At this time we have not located nor have any reported victims related to the initial call regarding the knife or shooting," Milpitas police said.

The situation brought in mutual aid assistance from San Jose police, the California Highway Patrol and the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office where, at one point, the mall was placed on lockdown and those inside the mall at the time had to remain inside while police conducted an investigation.

Officers conducted a search in the mall and inside the Burlington Coat Factory store. Eventually, shoppers and employees who were asked to shelter in place were escorted to exit doors by police and the mall was evacuated.

No victims were found in the mall and officers determined there was no evidence of a shooting.

The Great Mall -- the Bay Area's largest indoor outlet shopping center -- is located at the corner of Great Mall Parkway and Montague Expressway between Interstates 680 and 880. The mall was formerly a Ford assembly plant that was converted in 1994 to a large retail site of some 179 stores and restaurants.

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