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ST. JOHN’S, N.L. — A young woman who snapped a photo of a police officer walking through a St. John’s mall with a carbine firearm at the ready says she wishes officers could tell citizens more when highly armed situations arise in public venues.

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary explained Sunday evening, almost two days after the incident, that they were responding to a report of a shooting at the Avalon mall that turned out to be a false report.

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Twenty-three-year-old Amanda Evans said in an interview on Sunday she was coming off her shift and was sitting in the closed food court at Avalon Mall late Friday, taking shelter from a cool evening as she waited for a bus.

She says when she asked a Royal Newfoundland Constabulary officer carrying a rifle what was occurring and whether she should leave, she was told the situation appeared to be under control.

“I went up to the police officer with a gun and said, ‘I know you’re carrying something and the laser is on, but is it safe for me to stay here?”‘ she said.