Clackamas County sheriff’s deputies rushed to Clackamas Town Center on Thursday night after callers reported hearing what sounded like gunfire inside the mall.
The Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the response in a social media post, saying investigators found no injuries and believe there is no ongoing threat to the public.
The call came in shortly before 11 p.m., and KATU’s newsroom began fielding phone calls from people who said something was happening at the shopping center. A reporter was sent to the scene shortly after.
Witnesses told KATU they heard more than a dozen gunshots ring out and watched as numerous patrol cars pulled into the parking lot. Many said they had been at the mall to see the new Spider-Man movie when they were forced to evacuate.
By the time the KATU reporter arrived, the scene had calmed considerably. Only one deputy was seen driving through the area, and the situation appeared under control.
Investigation Continues, Sheriff’s Office to Release More Details
The sheriff’s office said investigators are still processing the scene and interviewing people who were there when the incident occurred.
Officials have not yet said what caused the reported gunshots or whether any shots were actually fired inside the building. A follow-up news release with additional information is expected as the investigation moves forward.
This is not the first time Clackamas Town Center has drawn a heavy police response. In December 2024, an 18-year-old man was arrested after a shooting in the mall’s parking lot injured a teenager.
That case ended with the shooter pleading guilty to attempted murder and receiving more than seven years in prison, while a second man charged in the case is set for trial in August. The mall was also the site of a deadly shooting in December 2012, when a gunman opened fire inside the building, killing two people before taking his own life.
Thursday’s incident adds to a string of high-profile police responses at the shopping center in recent years, though authorities have stressed there is no indication so far that anyone was hurt or that the public remains at risk.
The mall, located in unincorporated Clackamas County near Happy Valley, has struggled financially in recent months as well. Its owners reportedly defaulted on 191 million dollars in mortgage debt, with nearly half of the property’s leases set to expire in the coming months.
Deputies have not released the identities of anyone involved or said whether any arrests have been made. The Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office asked anyone with information about the incident to come forward as the investigation continues.
