Police examine the scene after a reported shooting along BRBN Street inside West Edmonton Mall on Thursday, January 29, 2026. Global News
West Edmonton Mall went into lockdown around lunchtime on Thursday after a gun was fired inside the building. Shoppers and employees rushed to the back of stores and restaurants as police moved in to secure the area.
The incident unfolded shortly before 12:30 p.m. when two males reportedly walked near the BRBN Street section of the mall. Police said one of them fired what appeared to be a gun toward the other.
Loud bang sparks panic
Several people inside the mall reported hearing at least one gunshot. The noise triggered immediate concern, prompting calls to police and an urgent lockdown across the property.
Officers from the Edmonton Police Service responded quickly to reports of a weapon. Police closed off key areas while they searched for anyone involved and assessed the situation.
Authorities lifted the lockdown about an hour later. Police confirmed there was no ongoing risk to public safety.
Evidence found near restaurant area
After reopening the mall, officers focused their investigation on the area near a Boston Pizza restaurant along BRBN Street, a busy stretch filled with bars and dining spots.
Investigators spotted what appeared to be a bullet hole on a stairway and found a shell casing on the floor. Police taped off the area as they collected evidence.
Police later confirmed that no one suffered injuries during the incident. Officers did not announce any arrests as of Thursday afternoon.
Public asked to help
Police asked anyone who witnessed the incident or noticed suspicious activity to contact investigators. Officers stressed that even small details could help them understand what happened.
Second lockdown in one week
Thursday’s scare marked the second lockdown at the mall in just a few days. On Monday evening, police responded to another weapons-related call around 8:20 p.m.
In that earlier case, officers received reports of a male waving what appeared to be a gun and pointing it at another person inside the mall. Mall security followed the suspect while police rushed to the scene.
Toy gun led to serious response
Police arrested a 15-year-old boy during Monday’s incident. Officers later determined the gun was a toy designed to look real.
Police said situations like this carry serious risk. Officers cannot quickly tell whether a gun is real or fake, especially when imitation firearms closely resemble real weapons.
“These encounters can become deadly, even when the gun is not real,” police said after the earlier lockdown. “If it looks like a gun, it will be treated like a gun.”
Ongoing safety concerns
Police treat all reports involving firearms as real threats to protect the public and officers. Replica and toy guns, including airsoft and BB guns, often look nearly identical to real firearms.
West Edmonton Mall has seen several lockdowns linked to violent incidents in recent years. One of the most serious occurred in August 2023, when a shooting in the parking lot sent three people to hospital with serious injuries.
