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Police arrest masked man with gun at Las Vegas mall

Investigators say gun appears to be fake
Posted at 11:01 PM, May 17, 2018
and last updated 2018-05-18 06:15:29-04

A suspect has been arrested and the gun and mask have been recovered after an incident at the Boulevard Mall in Las Vegas, according to police. The gun appears to be a fake gun, according to police. The identity of the suspect will be released Friday morning.  

Police said they received calls about a person with a gun at the Boulevard Mall on Maryland Parkway. No injuries were reported and police say no shots were fired. The mall was evacuated while officers made sure the person with a gun is not inside the mall. 

Deputy Chief Chris Jones told the media during a press briefing that video has been obtained of a person wearing a mask and carrying a long gun. 

The incident began shortly after 7 p.m. 

Watch video from inside the Boulevard Mall below

As the news first broke earlier tonight, thoughts of the Las Vegas shooting came to mind. But when it comes to mall shootings in Las Vegas there have been a few isolated incidents. In July 2014, one person was injured during a shooting at the Fashion Show Mall. In that case, police reported a scuffle broke out and one man was shot in the neck. There was another shooting in May 2016 in the parking lot at Fashion Show Mall.

This occurs at a crucial moments for Boulevard Mall. The more than 50-year-old shopping center was once the premier mall in the city but fell into disrepair. It was sold in 2013 to developer Roland Sansone for $54.5 million and then embarked on a $25 million renovation project.

It’s had some near-term ups and downs. After the SeaQuest Aquarium announced in 2016 it would open, Macy’s and J.C. Penney both said last year they would close. In 2018, Sansone announced the Galaxy Theater would open in the fall and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield will open in the second story of the former Macy’s space.

Facebook live video from Mahsa Saeidi at the scene