Man in Pueblo police custody after driving vehicle into mall, allegedly making bomb threat
Pueblo police responded to an incident Tuesday afternoon in which an individual crashed their vehicle into the food court of the Pueblo Mall and allegedly made a bomb threat. The suspect, who has not yet been identified by police, was apprehended at the scene.
Police were called to the mall just after 2 p.m. on a report of an active shooter — though no injuries were reported as of Tuesday evening — and arrived on scene in just over three minutes, according to a Pueblo Police Department news release.
Police "immediately identified a suspect in a vehicle and attempted to stop him" but the suspect fled in his vehicle through the parking lot with officers in pursuit, according to the release.
The suspect then drove the vehicle, which appeared to be a small, silver Kia SUV, through the entrance doors on the west side of the building leading into the food court. Officers were able to take the male suspect into custody after a "protracted struggle."
While in custody, police say the suspect indicated he had bombs in his vehicle so officers evacuated the building. The Pueblo Metro Bomb Unit is responding. The mall will be closed for an extended period of time.
Pueblo PD spokesperson Sgt. Frank Ortega told media members Tuesday afternoon that due to the suspect's alleged threats, police were treating the vehicle as a "suspicious device, and following all the necessary protocols for that."
Videos posted to Facebook shot directly before the crash showed the individual in the silver Kia being pursued by a Pueblo police cruiser in front of the mall before steering the vehicle onto the curb and directly through the mall's front doors.
The Pueblo County Sheriff's Office, Burlington Northern Santa Fe police, and Colorado State Patrol were working the scene alongside Pueblo PD Tuesday afternoon.
Police advise the community to check the Pueblo Mall and Pueblo PD's social media pages for updates on the mall may reopen. For now, the public is advised to avoid the mall.
Ortega said police have not yet identified a motive for the suspect's actions, and noted it is too early to say whether alcohol, drugs, or a mental health incident may have played a role.
A spokesperson for the Pueblo Mall said Tuesday in a statement to the Chieftain that the mall's security team "followed protocol" and the was "grateful for the quick action by the Pueblo Police Department."
"Our shopping center has a long history in the community, and we take the safety and security of our shoppers, retailers, and employees seriously," the statement read. "We have a well-trained security staff that works closely with our local police department, and the shopping center has many security measures in place that are designed to enhance the safety of all our guests. Pueblo Mall is working in full cooperation with the authorities as they conduct their investigation.”
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This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Man in custody following vehicle crash, alleged bomb threat at Pueblo Mall
