UPDATE, 1/2/25, 10:38 p.m.: A former security guard at the Acadiana Mall was arrested after the mall was evacuated and searched by multiple police agencies Thursday evening following reports of a person with a firearm.
In a news release, Lafayette police announced the arrest of 38-year-old Gregory Stevens. He faces charges of trespassing and terrorizing. He was also arrested on an active warrant for possession of a stolen firearm.
Police said Stevens was terminated from his job in early December and banned from the mall property.
Lafayette police determined the loud noises that mall employees and shoppers heard was likely the roll-down security doors being closed.
"During the mall's evacuation, several businesses began closing their roll-down security doors, creating loud slamming sounds throughout the building, in addition to people yelling and fleeing the area," police said in the news release.
Police said Stevens was inside the mall Thursday when he was allegedly acting erratically
Police said Stevens was found and taken into custody at a residence in the 100 block of Pleasant View Drive in Lafayette.
Police said in the news release that "no suspects armed with a weapon were found on the property" and that while information circulated online about possible gunshots being heard inside the mall, "officers have no information confirming that shots were fired during the incident."
LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) -- The Acadiana Mall was evacuated and searched Thursday evening after police received reports of a “possibly armed” individual in the mall.
Lafayette Police Sgt. Matthew Benoit said investigators have no confirmation or any indication that gunshots were fired.
“I know a lot of social media talk has been up and running about gunshots and ambulances and all these different things. We have no indication right now that any gunshots have been fired,” Benoit said in an interview with local media.
He said officers have not seen anyone inside the facility with a firearm. He emphasized that law enforcement was responding to reports of an alleged individual with a firearm.
“We responded to reports of it. It’s cautionary. Now, it’s a large response due to the nature of the situation. So, right now I can’t confirm that anyone actually went inside with a firearm – just telling you the reports that we received and this is how we responded.”
Benoit said there are no reported injuries.
Police finished the search at around 8 p.m. and no one with a firearm was found.
Regarding the large police presence, Benoit said that law enforcement has to take that extra precaution when responding to reports of that nature.
“Right now we have to take precautions. In the day and age that we live in, unfortunately things like this can happen quickly, so we are going to send all of our resources to a call like this,” he said.
The sweep appears to have extended beyond the mall, including areas around Olive Garden and Bushido’s.
This story continues below the video.
At around 6:50 p.m., Lafayette police issued the following statement on social media:
"The Lafayette Police Department responded to the Acadiana Mall 5725 Johnston Street for reports of an individual inside the mall, possibly armed. The Mall has since been evacuated while law enforcement continues an interior sweep of the building. No shots have been fired and there are no injuries at this time. This is a developing situation and updates will be provided accordingly."
In an emailed news release, Lafayette police said they responded to the mall at 5:38 p.m.
Employees and others who were inside the mall say they saw people running, armed police officers and heard loud noises that sounded like shots or pops.
"I just seen mad people running. So I started to duck too," one person said.
Another person said she was inside the mall when she heard someone yell "the cops got guns."
"And then, the next thing you know, I see the three cops with the guns," the woman said.
A man, who said he was in the center court managing his booth, when he saw three cops "all loaded, armed to the teeth" walking to the Dillard's wing.
"And as they were walking towards that area, everything kind of went silent. There wasn't any like any real, heavy-duty arguing. But we did manage, like, immediately out of nowhere, shots just rang out. Pop out," he said.
He said he heard at least "at least three or four" but that there could have been more.
A 5-year-old girl said she saw people running "really fast."
"And everybody's saying 'run, run,'" she said.
The girl said she was scared "[because] it was right in front of the workshop we were inside."
A woman with the young girl said they were at Lids when they heard an argument and then loud noises.
"We didn't know if it was shots or not and then we just see people running. And that's when, the fear, you know, we're just like, on my God. And I take her out the back," she said.
