Police evacuate Northwest Indiana mall following gunfire

HOBART, Ind. (AP) — Someone fired about five gunshots inside a northwest Indiana shopping mall Thursday but no one was injured, police said.

Police were called about 11:20 a.m. after multiple reports of gunshots near an upper level food court inside the Southlake Mall in Hobart.

The mall was placed on lockdown, and officers began to systematically clear the facility, moving store-by-store and ushering customers and employees out of the building.

No one was struck by the gunfire.

Officers determined about five shots were fired during the incident, causing damage to glass and other building fixtures.

The mall closed for the rest of the day. It is due to reopen on Friday.

“The mall is currently locked down, and officers are on the scene investigating,” Lt. Ronald Russo with the Hobart Police Department told The (Northwest Indiana) Times, which posted photos showing a shattered glass railing inside the mall.

Hobart is located about 31 miles (50 kilometers) east of Chicago.