**BREAKING: VIRAL CLAIM vs. REALITY — San Diego Shooting**

BREAKING: VIRAL CLAIM vs. REALITY — San Diego Shooting

Viral Claim (Fake): A mass shooting at a San Diego shopping mall sent 50 people to the hospital with injuries. Videos showing a convoy of ambulances and panicked shoppers fleeing are being shared on social media, with captions claiming “multiple shooters” and “active military involvement.”

Fact Check: ❌ FALSE. The San Diego Police Department has confirmed that the viral footage is from a drill — a multi-agency emergency response training exercise held yesterday at the Westfield UTC mall. The “ambulances” were part of a scheduled simulation of a mass casualty event. No shots were fired, and no one was injured. A spokesperson clarified: “This was a planned, public safety training drill. There is no threat to the public.”

The video circulating is real footage, but the context is entirely misleading. It is not a breaking news event but a routine preparedness exercise that had been announced publicly weeks in advance.

✅ REAL: No active shooter. No injuries. No credible threat reported.

Verdict: The claim is a classic example of digital deception — using real visuals from an authorized drill to fuel a false panic story. Always check official police or local government channels before sharing.