Police Investigating Deshae Frost Stampede At Southcenter Mall

TUKWILA, WA - A stampede at the Westfield Southcenter Mall on Saturday during the appearance of a YouTube star is now under investigation, according to Tukwila police. Deshae Frost may have touched-off the incident in an Instagram post before his appearance on Saturday, police say.

Around 5:30 p.m. Saturday, a large crowd of Frost fans ran through the mall with some shouting about a potential active shooter, according to police. That caused bystanders to flee, and some suffered medical emergencies.

"During this incident, one woman present had a severe panic attack. We have since received many reports from others that were present voicing their anger, frustration and mental impacts that they are suffering from as a result of this incident," Tukwila police posted Facebook Tuesday.

That post included a screenshot from Frost's Instagram page posted on Friday.

"Seattle! Meet me tomorrow at SOUTHCENTER mall at 5 p.m.! Let's get kicked out!" it read.

Frost's attorney released a statement after the stampede saying Frost "quickly" left the mall when he saw how many people were there to see him.

"As the crowed continued to grow and intensify, Mr. Frost quickly left Southcenter Mall as he began to fear for his own safety. To be clear, it was never his intent to incite a riot. He is deeply disturbed by some of the rumors associated with his meet and greet," attorney Cleodis Floyd said.

The Frost event was not organized by the mall, officials have said. Tukwila police said the incident sapped police and fire resources, and drew officers from other local agencies.

"We are not taking this incident lightly. Our Major Crimes Unit (MCU) is investigating the case and there is potential that criminal charges may be filed based on the findings of the investigation," Tukwila police said.

Frost has over 1.1 million followers on YouTube and another 1 million on Instagram. He has also appeared in the TV shows "S.W.A.T." and "Angie Tribeca."