Shots Shatter Saturday Calm: Police Launch Active Investigation After Gunfire Erupts Inside Foothills Mall in Fort Collins, Prompting Panic, Evacuations, and Community Concern
FORT COLLINS, CO — April 5, 2025 — A peaceful Saturday afternoon turned into a scene of fear and chaos as gunfire erupted inside Foothills Mall in Fort Collins. At approximately 5:36 p.m., multiple 911 calls flooded dispatch reporting shots fired in or near the mall’s central concourse. Fort Collins Police Services (FCPS) quickly responded, securing the area and launching what has now become a full-scale investigation into a shooting that has shaken the community.
Witnesses described scenes of panic, with shoppers and staff scrambling for safety as officers arrived on site. “We heard three or four loud bangs, and then people just started running,” said a mall employee, who asked to remain anonymous. “It was terrifying. You never think something like this will happen where you work.”
Emergency personnel were on the scene within minutes. Officers locked down the mall, evacuated stores, and conducted a methodical sweep to search for suspects and secure the premises. Paramedics were also dispatched, although at this time, authorities have not confirmed any fatalities or the extent of injuries.
As of Saturday evening, FCPS confirmed that the shooting is under active investigation, but few details have been released publicly regarding possible suspects or motives. No arrests had been made as of the last official update, and it remains unclear whether the shooter acted alone or if the violence was targeted or random.
The department has urged the public to avoid the area and to remain patient as investigators work to piece together what happened. “This is a developing and complex scene,” FCPS spokesperson Lt. Kimberly Baxter said in a press briefing. “Our detectives are interviewing witnesses, reviewing surveillance footage, and coordinating with mall security and neighboring law enforcement agencies.”
Foothills Mall, a popular retail destination in the heart of Fort Collins, is home to dozens of stores, restaurants, and the Foothills Activity Center. On weekends, the mall is typically bustling with families, students, and tourists. The shooting has cast a shadow over what should have been a routine day of shopping and leisure.
Fort Collins Mayor Jeni Arndt also released a brief statement expressing her concern: “Our thoughts are with everyone who was at Foothills Mall today. This kind of violence is heartbreaking and unacceptable. We are working closely with law enforcement to ensure the community is safe and that justice is served.”
Counseling services are being made available to those affected, and a reunification point was established near the mall for families and individuals separated during the evacuation.
Authorities are asking anyone who may have witnessed the incident or captured video of the scene to contact FCPS immediately. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers of Larimer County.
As investigators continue their work into the night, the Fort Collins community is left grappling with fear, uncertainty, and the urgent need for answers.