Afternoon errands at Stonestown Galleria came to an abrupt halt today when shoppers and employees were ordered out of the San Francisco mall amid a flurry of police activity. Emergency crews and multiple police units moved in as storefronts were cleared and patrons were told to leave, while officials urged people to avoid the complex and to allow extra travel time.
San Francisco public safety officials sent an alert shortly after 12:30 PM stating that emergency crews were on scene and traffic delays were likely, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The advisory asked people to avoid the mall’s 20th Avenue entrance while first responders worked the incident. Authorities did not immediately say whether anyone had been injured.
Stonestown's place in the neighborhood
Stonestown Galleria is a major shopping anchor near San Francisco State University and has been the focus of large redevelopment plans in recent years, making any disruption there a neighborhood-wide concern, per Hoodline. With students, nearby residents, shoppers and commuters all flowing through the area, problems at the mall can quickly ripple across transit and surface streets on the city’s west side.
What officials and mall staff said
Mall security confirmed that the shopping center had been evacuated, but city officials released no additional details about the nature of the police response, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The outlet reported that emergency crews stayed at the scene into the afternoon while investigators worked to determine what had happened.
Traffic and travel
Drivers passing through the area were warned to expect delays and consider alternate routes for as long as crews remained on scene. This story will be updated as officials release more information about the incident.
