In a moment of fear and confusion, stores at Dolphin Mall in Sweetwater, Miami-Dade County were forced to temporarily close on Sunday as shoppers ran and sought shelter following reports of a shooting. However, upon investigation, authorities stated that no evidence of a shooting was found and the mall was deemed safe.

According to the Sweetwater Police Department, detectives thoroughly searched the outlet mall at 11401 NW 12 St. but found no traces of a shooting. A spokesperson for the police department reassured the public, stating, "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."

The panic and confusion originated from an altercation that occurred at the mall. The Miami-Dade Police Department confirmed that while there was an incident, thankfully, no one was injured. As rumors began to spread across social media, shoppers found themselves overwhelmed by panic.

One witness, Sabrina Zamora, described the terrifying scene she encountered while at American Eagle. She witnessed people running into the store as employees swiftly evacuated shoppers through the back entrance, leaving the front entrance closed. Zamora recounted, "Everybody was just running, crying, having panic attacks."

Another shopper, Neil Gonzalez, was inside a shoe store when an employee directed customers to take cover in the back. Gonzalez captured the tense moment on video and shared it on Facebook, where he expressed the prevailing sense of fear, saying, "Everybody is scared."

Disturbing videos emerged, depicting people fleeing the mall in a state of panic, while others sought refuge within stores, anxiously awaiting updates on the situation. Among them was Lichesha Lashon, who took to Facebook to inform friends and family, "Stuck at Dolphin Mall in a store's closet due to a fight and shooting."

Fortunately, by 5:40 p.m., witnesses reported that most of the stores at Dolphin Mall had reopened, signaling a return to normalcy after the chaotic incident.

As authorities continue to investigate the altercation and the false reports of a shooting, it serves as a reminder of the importance of verifying information before sharing it, particularly during tense moments when panic can spread uncontrollably. The safety of shoppers and employees must always remain a top priority, and swift actions by both law enforcement and the mall staff ensured that any potential threat was promptly addressed.

Note: The article was generated using the limited information provided and may not reflect the full extent of the situation.