Police: Gunmen were not at mall

Austin police had extra presence at Barton Creek Square mall Tuesday following a false report of “several” gunmen at the mall, an official said.

About 11:30 a.m., someone contacted Nordstrom to report a sighting of “several males armed with guns” entering the mall area, said police Lt. Eli Reyes.

A Nordstrom employee then called 911.

No stores were placed on lockdown, Reyes said. It was not clear whether the call was a hoax. “We take all of these calls seriously and respond with the appropriate resources,” Reyes said. The case will be assigned to a police detective, who will follow up on the report, he said.

The nearby Eanes school district put several schools and buildings under temporary lockdown and other security measures, officials said.

A man who police say assaulted and stole from an elderly person this month after forcibly entering a home has been