The text does not make it clear how the Lamanites discovered those who fled. Perhaps they arrived with sufficient rapidity and the flight took enough time that the Lamanites had arrived close enough to see clearly those who were fleeing from the other side of the city. Because Mesoamerican wealth was displayed as part of their clothing, the fleeing group might easily be seen as the elite class and therefore the more desirable target, if not the easier. Assuming that Gideon was ready to defend the city, the Lamanites might easily have elected to capture elite prisoners who seemed unarmed rather than fight a military force entrenched in defensive positions.