Police: Officer opened fire on shoplifter who held BB gun inside Arlington, TX mall

ARLINGTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Holiday shoppers took cover inside a mall in north Texas when police opened fire on a shoplifter who appeared to have been armed with a handgun.

Police in Arlington, Texas, said the suspect's firearm turned out to be a replica pistol.

The confrontation happened at The Parks at Arlington Sunday afternoon. It all started when police say the man stole sunglasses from a store.

In images of the confrontation, officers appeared to have the suspect surrounded on an escalator. That was when police say he pulled out what looked like a real gun.

The suspect was sent to the hospital in critical condition.

The shopping center was evacuated and closed for the rest of the day.

Report a typo to the ABC13 staff