BRANDON, Fla. – Just before 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 21, 2022, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office began receiving multiple 911 calls regarding possible gunshots at Westfield Brandon Mall located at 459 Brandon Town Center Dr in Brandon.
Multiple units responded to the scene.
It was determined that an adult male, identified as Dustin Wendell Smith, 42, jumped from the second floor of a two-story carousel located inside the mall.
Smith landed on the first floor of the carousel and began shouting indiscernible phrases.
His actions frightened other mall patrons, causing them to run from the area.
The commotion quickly led some of the nearby stores to close their storefront security gates.
It is believed that the sound of the gates closing may have been mistaken for the sound of gunfire. No one was injured during the incident.
When deputies came in contact with Smith he was Baker Acted. Smith will likely face drug charges due to cocaine being found in his possession.
Brandon Mall was never shut down during the incident.
This case is unrelated to the armed robbery Saturday at Brandon Town Center Mall’s Zales location.
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