Shots fired during robbery attempt at Glendale Galleria jewelry store
Shoppers at the Glendale Galleria were evacuated from the mall just before 3 p.m. Saturday after shots were fired during an attempted robbery.
The gunfire came from a security guard after three people attempted to rob the Bhindi jewelry store on the mall’s second floor.
Brent Gardner, the mall’s general manager, said the suspects tried to smash through a Rolex display case with hammers.
“The security officer discharged his weapon to deter the assailants,” he said. “To my knowledge, I don’t think anything has been taken.”
Soon after the gunfire, shoppers and mall employees began to rush for the exits as the building was placed on lockdown.
An employee at one of the Galleria’s kiosks who declined to give his full name described the incident as a “stampede.”
“There was a lot of noise, and people were rushing out the doors,” he said. “The whole mall sounded loud and, slowly by slowly, we started seeing people running.”
The mall was eventually reopened around 3:30 p.m.
Sgt. Dan Suttles, a spokesman for the Glendale Police Department, said no injuries were reported during the incident. At least one of the suspects was taken into custody, while the other two are outstanding, he said.
It’s believed that the suspects were armed with only the hammers, and that there is no danger to the public, according to Suttles.
The incident remains under investigation.
Twitter: @Andy_Truc
