A Friday afternoon trip to Fairlane Town Center turned tense for Dearborn shoppers when reports of gunfire brought a heavy police response to the busy Michigan Avenue mall and pushed people outside to safety.
Officers rushed to the regional shopping center and were seen clustered near several entrances as crews worked to secure the area. The scare unfolded during a typically active shopping period, turning an ordinary day into an unsettling wait for answers.
According to ClickOnDetroit, police were at the mall around 2 p.m. and had not immediately confirmed what happened. A witness, Weston Fantroy, told the station he heard what sounded like "four or five" gunshots and saw a commotion before running outside for safety.
WXYZ reported that calls about shots fired came in around 3 p.m. and that officers were told an altercation between two people had occurred. The station says police were told a woman may have fired one shot, then left the mall and was arrested a short time later during a nearby traffic stop. Authorities have not announced any charges as detectives continue to investigate.
Investigation Underway
Dearborn police have not released a full account and say the probe is ongoing. The Fairlane Town Center's official site lists the mall at 18900 Michigan Avenue, placing the incident in one of Dearborn's busiest commercial corridors.
Context: Mall's Recent Troubles
The property has already been under financial and operational scrutiny this year, including a court-appointed receivership, according to a report describing the mall as back in turmoil. Local leaders and tenants have said they want stability and strong security as the property works through legal and ownership issues.
