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Did Danny Duncan yell 'shooter' at Cielo Vista Mall? Why YouTuber got labeled 'problematic' for alleged prank

YouTuber Danny Duncan’s bus was seen in the mall parking lot around 5 pm, making people speculate if it was a prank. However, he has denied these claims

EL PASO, TEXAS: The police department of El Paso says officers responded to a scene after it was reported that a shot was fired at the Cielo Vista Mall on Saturday, April 24 afternoon. Officers stated there was no shooting and no shots were fired. It was reported that YouTuber Danny Duncan’s bus was seen in the parking lot around 5 pm, making people speculate if it was an alleged prank. However, Duncan has denied these claims, an hour after this incident occurred. 

After receiving the information, the police cleared the mall as a precaution. Officials say a celebrity at the mall caused a rush of people and rumor spread of shots fired. No injuries have been reported at this time.

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According to a report, Shay Gann, who was at Tilly’s this afternoon, said she and her daughter were about to come out of the store when a group of people ran in and told others to take cover. An employee took them to a back storage area with 25 other people. “They didn’t tell us anything but someone got a phone call while we were in the closet that there was an active shooter in the mall,” she said. “We prayed and we waited. It was scary.” Gann said they waited until police arrived and escorted them out. “Everyone in that closet was terrified,” she said.

For now, it is unclear which celebrity police referred to in their tweet but according to one report, YouTuber Danny Duncan was at the mall at the time. He posted a video with fans outside the mall on his Instagram story before police responded to the situation. Crews witnessed police escort his van out of the complex around 5 pm.

Journalist Shelby Kapp posted: "Police say celebrity caused rush at Cielo Vista Mall, no shooter. Police HAVE NOT said what celebrity that is. I saw and captured this video of YouTuber Danny Duncan’s bus in the parking lot around 5 p.m. leaving the mall escorted out by police." While another one said, "I hope this Danny Duncan dude gets fucking fined, idgaf how “famous” he is bro, causing a mass hysteria in a place that’s had a tragic event happen is not okay"

Calling Duncan "problematic" another one tweeted, "I knew Danny Duncan was gonna be problematic I was waiting babez." While pointing out at the 2019 shooting at the same mall, where 20 people were reported dead, one said, "Idk who the fuck Danny Duncan is and I can care less but causing havoc at the mall after what happened 2 years ago in the same place, triggering all those emotions and flashbacks?? Dude gtfoh"

Slamming Duncan, another one said, "Never heard of Danny Duncan, if it was him who decided to stage an active shooter prank near a place thats still recovering from 2019 then fuck him Or fuck whoever ran through the mall screaming active shooter. Causing a mob to run for their lives. Some things you dont joke with." While one said, "El Paso has gone through a lot with the massive shooting at Walmart in 2019, and for this youtube guy Danny Duncan to mess around at the the fountains/cielo vista mall that there’s been shots fired was not cool!"

The El Paso police department also confirmed in a tweet saying: "Officers responded to Cielo Vista Mall on shots fired. No shooting. No shots fired. Officers clearing the mall as a precaution. No SHOTS FIRED"

Danny Duncan denies shooter prank

Duncan denied inciting his fans to yell “shooter” at Cielo Vista Mall during his visit there. The YouTuber took to Twitter an hour after he was seen leaving Cielo Vista Mall where shoppers were evacuated by police. “For context, people are saying I did a prank where we yelled there was a shooter in the mall,” he tweeted. “Which is something I’d never do.” He explained he was at Cielo Vista Mall and was meeting with fans who were shouting his name. The YouTuber says he went to Zumiez to buy shirts for fans.

When people on social media blamed him for the alleged shooter prank, he replied that the entire visit in the mall was recorded and that he will post it in his next video. “There was no prank at all going on,” he tweeted. “I was just visiting El Paso and hanging out wiht my supporters. Feel free to ask a Zumiez employee directly or mall security directly they were all with me during this time.”

These remarks were made by the Internet and individual organizations, MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and nor does it support these claims being made on the Internet.