Norfolk, Va. - Police blocked every entrance and shoppers were turned away after a bomb threat was called into the Gallery at Military Circle Mall forcing an emergency evacuation.
Norfolk police say the threat came in at 4:51 p.m. this afternoon just 15 minutes after that mall security made the call to get everybody out.
Parnell Collins was in the middle of watching a movie with his kids.
”The movie was still playing they just told everybody to get out don`t panic just walk gingerly that`s it,” Collin told NewsChannel 3.
But inside the actual mall employees say the scene was not calm.
“I just saw people running shutting their stores down, mall manager came over and told us that we had to go so we just left," Myasia Toney, an employee at a shoe store at the mall, said.
Toney said that when the manager told her to get out her initial thought was there was a shooting.
“I thought it was a gun shooting because everybody is always shooting and stuff," Toney said.
On Valentine's Day just two months ago a 23 year old was shot in the leg. And after this incident today Toney hopes the mall will step up its security.
“I do think they need more security there is a lot of stuff that has been going on at this mall and I just feel like something needs to be done," shared Toney.
According to officials, nothing was found inside the mall. Anchor stores and the movie theater were reopened.
Police are still investigating the bomb threat.
