GUILDERLAND, N.Y. -- What began as a normal Saturday at Crossgates Mall turned into law enforcement agencies from all over responding to a call of shots fired.
“It was total chaos and confusion. Everybody didn't know what was going on,” said Dominique Ryan, an employee at Billy Beez in the mall.
“It was an isolated incident. There was an argument between two individuals and it developed into a shot being fired. It wasn't someone who went to shoot up the mall. The mall management put the mall into lockdown immediately,” said Guilderland Police Chief Carol Lawlor.
“I work at Billy Beez so we had to shut down Billy Beez. There was mass hysteria in there. People were like ‘oh we want to go.’ We had to block fire exits. People wanted to try and get out the fire exits. I was hesitant myself as to coming into work I didn't want to come in,” Ryan said.
Police officers thoroughly searched the mall and spent hours clearing patrons and employees out of stores on lockdown.
“I have a lot of people to thank but I want to start by thanking the mall patrons, people who were there yesterday who left and conducted themselves in an amazing fashion by remaining calm,” said Chief Lawlor.
Many shoppers maintained that same calmness 24 hours later.
“I figure that it was just something that happened yesterday. We live in a world where things happen. I feel that we're protected,” said Kimberly Gerighty, a patron at the mall on Sunday.
“[It was] business as usual. Families were there and people were there. I don't think they're going to let this stop them from having a nice time,” Chief Lawlor said.
But the preparedness of law enforcement agencies to handle incidents like this one is key.
“We drill all the time. We practice all the time. The mall practices all the time. We drill with other agencies and so it showed yesterday how hard we worked training,” said Chief Lawlor.
Police have not yet located the suspect. They are looking for a male who is approximately 6’1 who was wearing a white shirt with a black hoodie yesterday. If you have any information about the suspect or if you have videos or pictures of the incident on Saturday you're asked to contact police.