TOWN OF POUGHKEEPSIE – Law enforcement officers from several departments rushed to the Poughkeepsie Galleria Thursday evening for multiple calls of an unknown disturbance involving firearms.
Several calls reported that men with long-arm rifles walking in the mall towards the food court created mass-hysteria at the mall shortly after 7 p.m. Police from the City and Town of Poughkeepsie responded to the shopping center, joined by several state troopers.
The scene was chaotic as mall patrons near the food court were told to evacuate as police investigated.
Police radio traffic reported that at least two men, armed with rifles, had entered the mall and were heading to the food court. Heavily armed police from several agencies responded to the scene to secure the area and detain possible suspects.
At one point, according to witnesses, police had detained three possible suspects and a fourth was being sought.
By 9 p.m., most law enforcement had cleared the scene.
