Vegas Man Arrested On Terrorism Charges After AK-47 Scare At Mall

LAS VEGAS, NV — A 25-year-old man who panicked shoppers when he walked through a Las Vegas shopping mall in a mask and carrying a replica AK-47 assault rifle has been arrested on a felony terrorism charge, police said Friday.

Hundreds of people were evacuated by police who responded in tactical gear and police dogs were deployed to search the Boulevard Mall just after 7 p.m. Thursday. The masked man walked through the center court of the 140-store shopping mall. He pointed the replica gun at numerous people inside the mall, police said.

Though he was masked, police were able to identify him after reviewing security footage and interviewing store employees and other witnesses.

Emile Daren Hopson was arrested at his apartment just after midnight, Deputy Las Vegas Chief Chris Jones said. Detectives found a mask, the replica AK-47 and discarded clothing in his residence, television station KVVU reported.

Police weren’t able to immediately interview Hopson, who Jones described as uncooperative during his booking at Clark County Jail.

“We do not know what his motive or intent,” Jones said, according to a report by the Associated Press.

Shoppers were unnerved by the experience. Cory Matthews told KVVU that he and and his family were celebrating his son’s birthday at the mall recreation center and his primary concern was keeping his children calm when about 10 police showed up with guns drawn and escorted them out.

“If (the kids) didn’t see me panic, they wouldn’t panic,” Matthews said.

Hopson is being held without bond at the Clark County Jail pending an initial court appearance, where he’s expected to get a court appointed attorney. If he’s convicted of committing an act of terrorism, he could face decades in state prison.

Hopson was arrested several times this year, Las Vegas Metro Police Officer Jay Rivera told KVVU. He was arrested twice on disorderly conduct charges on April 28 and Feb. 28. On Jan. 28, he was arrested for jaywalking and for failure to appear as a convicted felon in connection with an armed robbery in Illinois.

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