What Really Happened at Cumberland Mall Yesterday?

Confusion erupted at Cumberland Mall as Cobb County Police responded to multiple reports and calls about an active shooter. Calls to 911 described masked males running through the mall and allegedly shooting, sparking panic and chaos among shoppers.

However, police determined that there was no gunfire and while they did suspect a stabbing had occurred at one point, surveillance video showed that it was a fistfight with no shots fired and no one stabbed.

Just The Facts:

• An officer working part-time security at the mall responded immediately to the food court, where the disturbance was first reported.
• No victims or armed individuals were found at the scene.
• Officers from multiple agencies arrived to secure the mall and manage the panicked crowd.
• Two juveniles and one adult were detained for further investigation.
• A blood trail discovered in front of several stores led to speculation of a stabbing.

The Investigation:

• Surveillance footage later confirmed the incident was a fistfight, not a shooting or stabbing.
• One person involved in the fight began bleeding, exited the mall, and left the blood trail that officers observed.
• No firearms or knives were seen in the video, and no hospitals reported related injuries.

The Cobb County Police Department confirmed there was no ongoing threat to public safety. Officers praised the swift and coordinated response of all units involved in securing the area and calming the chaos.

How You Can Help: Anyone with additional information about the disturbance is encouraged to contact Cobb County Police.

B.T. Clark

Publisher at The Georgia Sun

B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.