Arlington, Texas, Police Shoot a Suspect with a Fake Firearm at Arlington’s Parks Mall
On Sunday, November 26, 2017, security staff at Parks Mall in Arlington, Texas, reported that they were in pursuit of a suspect who had allegedly stolen two pairs of sunglasses from the Sunglass Hut. Two Arlington police officers at the mall went to the scene. The suspect was running towards an escalator going from a lower to an upper deck. There was an officer on each deck. According to authorities, the suspect pulled out a firearm and directed it toward the police officer on the lower deck. They described the firearm as appearing to be an imitation or replica. The police officer on the lower deck fired his weapon, allegedly striking the suspect. Authorities say the suspect is in his early 20’s, and he was rushed to a local hospital. According to one source, the suspect is in critical condition. There were no other injuries at the scene of the alleged police-involved shooting.
People were asked to avoid the area, and the mall was evacuated and closed. It opened during normal hours as of the following morning.
Police officers recovered the firearm the suspect was carrying, and they said that it fires pellets or “BBs.” Arlington Police Chief Will Johnson posted a message on Twitter that such a replica of a firearm should never be used in criminal endeavors, since police officers do not have adequate training that could help them distinguish between a real and an imitation gun within seconds. He said officers are pursuing legislation to address the dangers created by realistic-looking faux firearms.
Mall shoppers said it was a chaotic scene, when shots were fired. Reportedly, kids were trampled, people were panicked and crying, and many shoppers crammed into restrooms. In general, people didn’t know what to do.
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