Century City Mall Evacuated Amid Reports of ‘Active Shooter’ [Updated]

1:55 PM PDT on March 15, 2019

[dropcap size=big]W[/dropcap]estfield Century City mall was evacuated Friday by the Los Angeles Police Department after police received calls of an "active shooter" at the busy Westside shopping center. In social media posts from people at or near the mall, you can see swarms of customers running out of Westfield.

L.A. Taco received at least one confirmed report from inside the mall of customers sheltering in the basement of an Apple store.

[** UPDATE, 3:13 pm: LAPD said via Twitter that there is no active shooter at the mall.]

UPDATE: If you’re sheltering in place within the Century City Mall you can begin to calmly exit the location. We ask that you remain calm and follow instructions of the officers at scene. We have NO evidence of a shooting or any victims at this time.
— LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) March 15, 2019

The news comes on the same day that 49 people were gunned down in a terrorist attack in New Zealand that targeted Muslims at two mosques. The LAPD, which was already on high alert due to the terrorist attack across the globe, said via social media that they are "responding to calls of an 'active shooter' at the Century City mall. We have officers on scene who are clearing the location, but at this time we have NO evidence of a shooting or victims."

LAPD did ask for people to stay away from the mall which takes up space between Santa Monica Boulevard, Constellation Boulevard, Avenue of the Stars, and Century Park West.

Story developing.

What’s happening at the Westfield Century City Mall. People are running out. @westside311_ pic.twitter.com/XeLRWiZ3AG
— Claudia Moran (@7Claudia777) March 15, 2019

If you are at the Century City Mall we ask that you remain calm and shelter in place until you receive instructions from the officers on scene.
— LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) March 15, 2019

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Erick Galindo

@erickgeee

Erick Galindo is a contributing Editor to L.A. TACO. He writes the Mis Ángeles column for LAist/KPCC and has written essays on food and culture for the New York Times and Los Angeles Times.

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