Sweetwater police: Dolphin Mall is safe after ‘no evidence of shots fired’

Stores close temporarily as fearful shoppers run and hide during police investigation

SWEETWATER, Fla. – After reports of a shooting prompted stores to temporarily close at Dolphin Mall on Sunday in Miami-Dade County, police officers reported the mall was safe.

Detectives did not find any evidence of a shooting at the outlet mall at 11401 NW 12 St., according to the Sweetwater Police Department.

“We are aware of reports of shots fired at Dolphin Mall. After further investigation, no evidence was found to corroborate such reports. The mall has been deemed safe,” a spokesperson wrote on X.

There was an altercation at the mall but no one was injured, according to the Miami-Dade Police Department. There was panic and rumors spread on social media.

Sabrina Zamora said she was at American Eagle when she saw people running into the store and employees evacuated shoppers through the back and closed the front entrance.

“Everybody was just running, crying, having panic attacks,” Zamora said.

Neil Gonzalez was inside a shoe store when an employee closed and told customers to take cover in the back. He shared a video on Facebook.

“Everybody is scared,” Gonzalez said in the video.

Witnesses shared videos of people running out of the mall and shoppers hiding inside stores waiting for updates.

“Stuck at Dolphin Mall in a stores closet due to a fight and shooting,” Lichesha Lashon wrote on Facebook.

Witnesses reported most of the stores had reopened by 5:40 p.m.

Local 10 News Assignment Desk Editor Mercedes Cevallos contributed to this report.

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About the Authors
Terrell Forney headshot

Terrell Forney joined Local 10 News in October 2005 as a general assignment reporter. He was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, but a desire to escape the harsh winters of the north brought him to South Florida.

Andrea Torres headshot

The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.

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