Auburn mall evacuated after threat, 25-year-old arrested

AUBURN, Mass. — The scene unfolded inside of the busy Auburn Mall. Auburn Police got the call they didn’t expect.

A 25-year-old man allegedly called them saying, "I have a gun in my backpack."

It was just after 11:30 a.m. Tuesday when police say 25-year-old Andres Olivencia called them, saying this:

Dispatcher: This call is recorded, what's your emergency?

Caller: I have a little tiny handgun in my backpack, and it's loaded.

Dispatcher: OK, how tiny, what caliber?

Caller: I don't really know what kind of gun. I'm not good with guns. I'm going back inside the mall.

Dispatcher: Don't go inside the mall, sir, please.

Boston 25 News obtained video of officers running into the mall with their rifles drawn, as they were scouring the mall for the alleged gunman.

"Everyone that was working on shift responded," said Auburn Police Chief Andrew Sluckis.

Nearby, schools were on lockdown.

Dispatcher: Where are you inside of the mall?

Caller: Over near Olympia sports, next to Kay Jewelers. I'm in the line, I got to do what I gotta do.

"When someone says they have a gun, today you have to take them at their word," Sluckis said.

Officers were able to identify who they were looking for by a clothing description.

"He wouldn’t provide the dispatcher with his name when he called. For some reason he provided a clothing description," Sluckis said.

Officers found Olivencia by the food court area. He was arrested for making terroristic threats.

"Once he was placed in handcuffs, he said, 'I want help,'" the police chief said.

In the end, Olivencia never had any weapons on him.

Police said they were ready for anything, as they just finished their active shooter training earlier in April.

Cox Media Group