JC Penney at Westfield Wheaton Mall evacuated after armed man barricades himself in fitting room

WHEATON, Md. - Authorities had to evacuate the JC Penney store at the Wheaton Mall in Montgomery County after a man accused of shoplifting barricaded himself inside a fitting room with a knife. He is now in custody.

Police responded to the mall around 10:30 a.m. to investigate a shoplifting call.

Store employees told police they saw the man try to steal a watch. The man, who was armed with a knife, then barricaded himself in the store’s fitting room.

Police say the situation has been contained to that area of the store and that there is no threat to the public. 

No injuries have been reported.

Person barricaded inside JC Penney draws police response, leads to evacuation of Wheaton Mall