A Metro Police SWAT team assembles in the parking lot of the Boulevard Mall Thursday, May 17, 2018.
Published Thursday, May 17, 2018 | 8:20 p.m.
Updated Friday, May 18, 2018 | 12:04 a.m.
Metro Police swarmed the Boulevard mall Thursday evening, responding to reports of a masked man carrying a rifle. No shots were fired, no one was injured, and late into the night, officials announced that the gunman was finally located and arrested.
Patrol officers responded about 7 p.m. after multiple people reported seeing the man walking through the center of the spacious mall, near Maryland Parkway and Desert Inn Road, Metro Deputy Chief Chris Jones said in a briefing.
He did not make any verbal threats or pull the trigger, Jones said, but he was wearing a mask, which was confirmed when arriving officers combed through surveillance footage.
A plethora of police, who surrounded the building, blocking every entrance, evacuated it and swept through it at least four times, Jones said. By 10:30 p.m., that officer presence had dwindled and officials declared the gunman still missing. At about 11:40 p.m., officials announced the suspect had been arrested and that police had recovered the mask and gun, which they said appears to be fake.
Earlier, a Metro helicopter had buzzed above, SWAT vehicles pulled in, and officers armed with rifles made their way around the property. Crews with the Clark County Fire Department and medics were on hand in case any further incident occurred.
"We do not know what the individual's intent was in coming into the mall with that rifle, but that investigation will continue through the night and hopefully we'll locate (him)," Jones said about 9 p.m., noting that officers in tactical gear and police dogs were ready to conduct a fourth search.
Security guards were instrumental by immediately contacting 911 and quickly allowing police access to their security equipment, Metro spokesman Officer Jay Rivera said.
