Terrified shoppers, including a woman with a baby, were forced to hide after a teenager allegedly brandished a fake gun in a busy shopping mall.
The 17-year-old boy allegedly pulled out the fake black handgun in Mandurah Forum on Pinjarra Road, an hour south of Perth, at about 1.20pm on Friday.
It’s understood the incident occurred after he was approached by another group of teenagers with whom he had had previous altercations with.
The teenager, from Meadow Springs, is alleged to have chased the group through the busy shopping centre while pointing the fake gun at them.
Shoppers were forced to take cover as police officers descended on the mall and were only able to leave the centre after being given the all-clear.
Sportsgirl, Foot Locker and Cotton On shut their doors immediately.
Mandurah mother Pania Ripahou was forced to cower in a Cotton On change room with her seven-month-old baby.
‘We were scared. There were a lot of mums in the shop and he was right at the front door,’ Ms Ripahou told PerthNow.
‘I don’t think I felt unsafe, I felt confused. It’s when I digested it [afterwards] that I realised how serious it was.’
Ms Ripahou said she was only spoken to once by security who asked if the store was going to reopen or not.
‘I hope this has woken up the centre I think everyone is learning there’s a lack of vigilance. There needs to be some protocols put in place,’ she said.
WA Police said members of the public were fearful the firearm was real and capable of discharging a round.
‘Several stores within the shopping centre conducted an emergency closure during the incident,’ it said in a statement.
‘The firearm was located by police and it was confirmed as being an imitation firearm and unable to fire a projectile.’
The 17-year-old was charged with being armed in a way that may cause fear and will appear in Mandurah Magistrates Court on October 14.
Vicinity Centres, which owns Mandurah Forum, said it isassisting WA Police.
‘The safety of our visitors, retailers, team and the wider community is our priority. As the matter is the subject of a police investigation, we are unable to provide any further detail,’ a spokeswoman said.
WA Police are also speaking to other witness and parties about the incident.
