SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. — There was a shoplifting incident at Macy's Department store in Westfield Plaza Bonita mall Saturday that turned into one report of an active shooter at AMC theatres, causing panic among those in the area.
National City police were initially called to the mall for a reported shoplifting incident where the suspect was arrested.
At some point, an individual believed that they had heard gunfire and reported it to the police on the scene. That allegation caused some initial panic inside the theater.
A spokesperson for National City Fire said that someone inside the theater, fearing that there had been shots fired pulled a fire alarm triggering more panic and chaos with everyone exiting the movie theater.
Police performed a security sweep of the mall and theater and did not find any evidence of shots fired or a shooting.
Three people sustained minor injuries due to the panic.
Editor's note: The initial reports of a shooting were not officially confirmed by authorities.