A tense search gripped the area around Westfield Culver City on Saturday afternoon after a caller told police a man had threatened to start shooting at the mall. Officers quickly swarmed the neighborhood and reported spotting someone who matched the suspect description near the intersection of Slauson Avenue and Hannum Avenue, but the man walked away before they could detain him. Authorities urged people to steer clear of the area while they worked the scene. No injuries were reported.
Police said the call came in at about 3:15 p.m., prompting officers to establish a perimeter and sweep nearby parking lots and the transit center, according to NBC Los Angeles. The suspect was described only as a man in his 30s who was believed to be armed. Police activity in the Slauson-and-Hannum area, adjacent to the 90 Freeway, wrapped up just before 5:30 p.m., the outlet reported. The investigation remains ongoing.
Recent threats and past violence at Westfield
Westfield Culver City was also the scene of a deadly parking-lot shooting in mid-February that led to arrests, as reported by Hoodline. Earlier this month, officers rushed back to the mall for what authorities later said appeared to be a "swatting" hoax, according to MyNewsLA. Taken together, the incidents have stoked concern among shoppers and employees in the busy Fox Hills retail corridor.
How to report tips
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Culver City Police Department non‑emergency line at (310) 837‑1221 or call 911 in an emergency. Investigators say they are looking for witnesses and any video from the mall area to help identify the suspect and clarify what happened, per NBC Los Angeles. As of Saturday evening, the department had not released additional details about the person officers encountered at the scene.
