Umbrella mistaken for gun prompts store evacuation

MERRITT ISLAND, Fla. (AP) — Authorities say an umbrella was mistaken for a gun and prompted an evacuation at a Florida supermarket.

Florida Today reports that someone called 911 Friday morning saying a man had entered a Merritt Island Publix with a rifle slung over his shoulder.

About 10 Brevard County deputies responded to the store. A sheriff’s office spokesman says the deputies quickly identified the man and realized there was no threat.

The store returned to normal business after the brief evacuation.

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Information from: Florida Today (Melbourne, Fla.), http://www.floridatoday.com