**HEADLINE: BREAKING – Police Confirm "Active Shooter" Alert at San Diego Mall Was a False Alarm Sparked by Fireworks, but Viral Photo of Bloodied Victim Is Real (And From 2019)**

HEADLINE: BREAKING – Police Confirm “Active Shooter” Alert at San Diego Mall Was a False Alarm Sparked by Fireworks, But Viral Photo of Bloodied Victim Is Real (and from 2019)

The Claim: Viral social media posts on X and Facebook this afternoon are alleging that an active shooter is on the loose at the Fashion Valley Mall in San Diego, citing a “credible threat” and sharing a graphic photo of a man bleeding on the ground. One post read: “Mass shooting underway at San Diego Fashion Valley. Cops are everywhere. Stay away. Pray for San Diego.”

The Facts: ✅ What is real: The San Diego Police Department (SDPD) did respond to a heavy police presence at Fashion Valley Mall around 2:15 PM PST. Officers cleared the mall after reports of “multiple shots fired.” SDPD later confirmed that the loud noises were fireworks set off inside a garbage can near the food court. No shooter was found, no weapon was recovered, and there are no reported injuries from this incident.

👎 What is fake: The viral image circulating (showing a person on the floor with heavy bleeding) is not from today’s incident. A reverse image search reveals the photo was taken during a violent fight and stabbing outside a bar in Houston, Texas, in 2019. The image has been recycled and misattributed to the San Diego mall event by hoax accounts.

The Verdict: ❌ FALSE – No shooting occurred. The chaos was caused by fireworks. The accompanying photo of a victim is unverified and sourced from a different, older incident. SDPD has confirmed the area is safe and that the “active shooter” reports were erroneous.

*Bottom line: Don’t share that photo. It’s a hoax designed to inflame panic. The “shots” were fireworks,