Lafayette Police: Arrest Made in Connection to Acadiana Mall Incident

Lafayette Police have made an arrest following the tense evacuation of the Acadiana Mall yesterday evening. Gregory Stevens, 38, of Lafayette, has been taken into custody and faces multiple charges after allegedly causing panic at the mall.

The incident began at 5:38 p.m. when authorities responded to reports of a possibly armed individual inside the mall. Law enforcement, including the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office and Louisiana State Police, conducted thorough sweeps of the mall, both inside and out. While initial social media reports claimed gunfire was heard, police have confirmed there is no evidence of shots being fired.

According to a press release from Lafayette Police Sgt. Matthew Benoit, much of the confusion stemmed from the sounds of roll-down security doors being closed by businesses during the evacuation, along with patrons yelling and rushing to safety.

The investigation revealed that Stevens, a former Acadiana Mall security guard who had been terminated and banned from the property in early December, was seen acting erratically inside the mall prior to the evacuation. Witness accounts of his behavior caused fear and concern among shoppers and employees.

Police located Stevens at a residence on Pleasant View Drive in Lafayette and arrested him. He has been booked into the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center on charges of trespassing, terrorizing, and possession of a stolen firearm stemming from an active warrant.

The Lafayette Police Department expressed gratitude to partnering agencies for their swift response and assistance during the incident.