Masked man incites panic at Houston mall

People stand outside Memorial City Mall on Sunday in Houston as police investigate a disturbance causing an evacuation of the shopping center. Hundreds of panicked people rushed out of the Texas mall after a masked man jumped on a food court table and said he would kill himself before throwing down an unknown object covered in toilet paper.
People stand outside Memorial City Mall on Sunday in Houston as police investigate a disturbance causing an evacuation of the shopping center. Hundreds of panicked people rushed out of the Texas mall after a masked man jumped on a food court table and said he would kill himself before throwing down an unknown object covered in toilet paper.

HOUSTON - Hundreds of panicked people rushed out of a Houston mall after a masked man jumped on a food court table and said he would kill himself before throwing down an unknown object covered in toilet paper.

Houston police were searching for the masked man. Police say he left Memorial City Mall amid the chaos Sunday afternoon. Police said he could face a terroristic threats charge.

Police Assistant Chief Sheryl Victorian says, "We don't take this type of thing lightly."

The incident comes after a shooter killed 22 people at a Walmart in El Paso on Aug. 3, which was followed hours later by a shooting in an Ohio entertainment district that left nine dead.

Police said two people at the Houston mall
suffered minor injuries in the crowd.

 

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