An active-shooter drill at a Florida mall on Sunday sent frightened patrons running for cover and raised confusion after real-life attacks left 31 dead in Texas and Ohio.
The drill at the Mall in Wellington Green in Wellington in South Florida involved the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and other police agencies, The Palm Beach Post reports.
It was scheduled for 6 to 11 p.m., hours after shootings in El Paso and Dayton killed 31 people and injured many others.
The mall closes at 6 on Sundays, but restaurants and movie theaters remain open longer.
Patrons leaving a 5:20 p.m. showing of "The Lion King" at a movie theater in the mall ran for cover after hearing gunshots, according to the Post report.
Others called 911 or family members, while parents protected frightened children. Some also took to social media.
However, the drill was scheduled two months in advance, said Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Teri Barbera.
"It's not anything new for us," she told the Post. "We do it annually."
Law-enforcement officials worked with local managers in planning the drill, but Mayor Anne Gerwig said she could not recall seeing a reminder from authorities on Friday.
"It was a little alarming to people because they didn't know it was going on," said Gerwig, who was at a mall restaurant when the drill occurred.
Restaurant staff told diners of the drill, she said.
"This is just preparing us," Gerwig said.
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