LAFAYETTE, La. (1/3/2024) – An arrest made in Acadiana Mall incident has brought clarity to a tense situation that unfolded on Johnston Street.
On Thursday evening, the Lafayette Police Department (LPD) responded to reports of an armed individual inside the Acadiana Mall. The incident led to a swift response from law enforcement and raised alarm among mall visitors.
At 5:38 p.m., officers from multiple agencies, including the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office and Louisiana State Police, arrived on the scene. After conducting thorough sweeps of the mall’s interior and exterior, no armed suspects were found on the property. Social media reports suggested gunfire inside the mall; however, investigators found no evidence of shots being fired.
The loud noises reported by witnesses were likely the sounds of roll-down security gates being locked as businesses evacuated. Combined with panicked yelling and fleeing patrons, these noises created the illusion of gunfire.
As the investigation progressed, authorities identified Gregory Stevens, 38, as a person of interest. Stevens, a former employee and security guard at the mall, had been terminated earlier in December and banned from the property. Witnesses described his behavior that evening as erratic, which heightened concerns.
Law enforcement located Stevens at a residence on Pleasant View Drive in Lafayette. He was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center. Stevens faces charges of trespassing, terrorizing, and possession of a stolen firearm.
For additional details, watch the video interview with Lafayette Police Department PIO.
The Lafayette Police Department expressed gratitude to its law enforcement partners for their assistance in ensuring the community’s safety during this event.
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