Old explosive device found in El Paso’s Lower Valley caused shutdown of shopping center, school evacuation

EL PASO, Texas -- Police and fire crews evacuated a nearby school and shut down a Lower Valley shopping center after an apparent live explosive device was found late Friday afternoon at a thrift shop in the complex.

The discovery occurred at the Family Thrift Store at 7108 Alameda near George Orr. Authorities kept people at a distance from the Hidden Valley Shopping Center and had evacuated adjacent Ascarate Elementary as a precaution.

As of 7:15 p.m., a police spokesman said the department's bomb squad had "determined the suspicious item to be non-hazardous" and officers were reopening the area to normal traffic. There were no injuries reported.

Fire officials had indicated the "unexploded device" was believed to be an old grenade that was found among some donated items at the thrift store. Authorities did not believe there was any foul intent involved.