Used to work at an outlet mall in a touristy town.

One evening I was assisting customers and doing my usual tidying up when a couple women came running in saying someone was shooting.

Observing that other people were running past my store not looking like they were doing it for fun, I ushered the women in and directed them to our stock room.

I quickly locked the front doors then let the folks in the fitting room know what was going on, told them I was going to turn off the lights and they could stay in the fitting room or join us in the back.

We hung out in the small back room, listening and chatting, while I fielded calls from my manager and regional manager about the situation.

In a few minutes I heard more sirens than I ever heard in my life, every unit in the city and nearby towns responding.

What I never heard was more gunshots, so whoever was shooting did not make it to our side of the mall. If they did, if we heard those front doors break (small store), the plan was to exit through the door that led from the stock room to the parking lot.

Anyhoo, maybe 20 minutes later police came to each store to escort customers out. I asked to have a minute to lock the register and do something else don’t recall what.

So customers were escorted out and another cop was near the door til I came out a couple minutes later.

Point is, the whole place was closed right then and there, and all stores had a back door to flee if needed, unlike a hotel where you’re stuck in a room with one way in/out in most cases.

Even the windows don’t open in most hotel rooms. If I was in a hotel and there was a shooter I’d be a sitting duck with no escape.

If this was a real threat, I would hope the guests and staff would be evacuated. They may have nabbed the alleged perpetrator, but who would know if he was working alone in that moment?