Light fixture shattering causes gun scare at Tysons Corner Mall, police say

Anxiety around possibility of mass shootings

A shattered light fixture created chaos at Tysons Corner Mall Sunday as people ran scared thinking it was an active shooter. Was the false alarm part of a broader issue? FOX 5's Chief Legal Correspondent Katie Barlow has the story.

TYSONS, Va. - Police say a broken light fixture shattering caused a scare at Tysons Corner Mall in Tysons, Virginia Sunday afternoon.

According to Fairfax County Police, officers received a call at 2:49 p.m. Sunday reporting gunshots fired inside Tysons Corner Center, located at 1961 Chain Bridge Road.

After arriving at the scene and evacuating the mall, officers searched the building to investigate the reports.

Fairfax County Police confirm to FOX 5 the noise that alarmed shoppers was caused by a light fixture shattering inside the mall, and not gunshots.

Police say the light fixture shattered after falling, but they are still unsure what caused it to fall. It was not immediately clear what area of the mall this happened in.

The mall will be open for the remainder of the day Sunday.

This is the second scare at Tysons Corner Mall this summer after gunshots were fired inside the mall in June during a fight between two groups.

This is a developing story. Stay with FOX 5 for updates as they become available.