Gunshots were fired at the Brandon Exchange shopping center on Wednesday evening, prompting a response by more than 100 Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office deputies.
No one was shot during the incident, though an employee inside the mall received a minor cut from a window that was shattered during the shooting, the sheriff’s office reported.
Sheriff’s officials said in a news release that a preliminary investigation found that “an altercation between two groups of people occurred before shots were fired. Surveillance footage showed the individuals leaving the mall as deputies arrived.”
The sheriff’s office said the first call about the shooting came in at 5:16 p.m. Deputies were dispatched within a minute and the first arriving deputy arrived a minute after that.
“As additional deputies arrived, they immediately began securing the scene and clearing businesses throughout the mall to ensure the safety of patrons and employees,” the agency’s news release states. “More than 100 deputies responded, including members of the K-9 Unit, Drone Response Team and Aviation Unit, working together to secure the area and conduct an extensive search of the mall.”
The sheriff’s office put out a social media post about the incident just after 6 p.m. saying “this is not an active shooter” but asking the public to stay away from the mall, which is near the junction of Interstate 75 and State Road 60.
In a social media post about 45 minutes later, the sheriff’s office said that the “mall is secure” and that a “reunification location” had been set up at a nearby Target.
No arrests in connection with the incident had been reported as of 9:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Earlier this year, a 15-year-old boy was shot to death inside a fitting room at the Dick’s House of Sport at the mall. A 16-year-old was later charged with manslaughter in connection with the teen’s death.
We are on scene of reported shots fired at the Brandon Exchange. To be clear, this is not an active shooter. HCSO will provide more information as it becomes available. We ask the community to avoid the mall while our investigation continues. pic.twitter.com/HGGJ719kyg
— HCSO (@HCSOSheriff) November 11, 2026
Update (6:44 pm): Brandon Exchange is closed. HCSO is on scene. The mall is secure. The reunification location is at the Target located on 459 Brandon Town Center Drive. pic.twitter.com/ExWaCTpA0d
— HCSO (@HCSOSheriff) November 11, 2026
Update (6:53 p.m.): Sheriff Chad Chronister is on scene at the Brandon Exchange. Preliminarily there are no shooting victims at this time. pic.twitter.com/tE2Vid21Xa
— HCSO (@HCSOSheriff) November 11, 2026
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office is investigating after reports of shots fired at the Brandon Exchange on Wednesday evening, prompting an immediate response from more than 100 deputies.
The 911 Dispatch Center received the first call at 5:16 p.m. Five additional calls… pic.twitter.com/z69T2E9yAw
— HCSO (@HCSOSheriff) November 12, 2026
