The Annapolis Mall in Maryland was thrown into panic on Black Friday after shoppers reported that a man flashed a gun during a fight inside the shopping center. The incident sparked widespread fear, with many believing an active shooter was inside the building, prompting a full lockdown and a massive police response.
The first alarm surfaced shortly after 2 p.m., when a woman shared on Facebook that her daughter called from inside the mall saying there was “a shooter in the mall.” The message quickly spread across social media, heightening the panic during one of the busiest shopping days of the year.
Witnesses reported seeing large numbers of police vehicles racing to the mall’s main entrance as crowds ran toward exits. Several shoppers said stores went into lockdown, with employees locking gates and sheltering customers inside. Others described people fleeing the mall in tears as they believed an active shooting was underway.
Witnesses Describe Fear and Confusion Inside the Mall
By late afternoon, accounts from inside the mall pointed to a confrontation near the Macy’s wing as the origin of the scare. According to one customer, tensions escalated during the rush for a limited-edition sneaker release. Amid the fight, one man allegedly pulled out a gun but did not fire it.
The sight of the weapon alone triggered chaos, with nearby shoppers yelling “shooter!” as they ran. One witness posted on X that they saw fire trucks and police cars flooding the area, while another said they saw a man being consoled as emergency crews arrived.
Some social media users even claimed that people climbed onto the roof to escape—though those reports have not been confirmed.
Police Confirmed No Shots Fired
Within the last hour, officers responded for a disturbance with a report of a possible shot being fired at the Annapolis Mall. During their investigation, officers determined that there were no shots fired. Credible information, along with witness accounts suggests there was an… pic.twitter.com/YWPcdnu8Bt
— Anne Arundel County Police Department (@AACOPD) November 28, 2025
As of the latest update, the Annapolis Police Department has confirmed that no shots were fired.
