CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WNCN) — An armed man was shot and killed by off-duty police at a mall in North Carolina near Charlotte on Christmas Eve, reports say.
WCNC, the NBC affiliate in Charlotte, reported that viewers are telling them that shots were fired inside Northlake Mall in North Charlotte just after 2 p.m. Thursday.
WBTV reported that a witness said that an officer shot and killed a gunman inside the mall.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police said one armed subject was shot and was pronounced dead at the scene by MEDIC, WBTV reported. No officers were injured, according to WBTV.
WCNC reported that Charlotte Police told them there was an argument between two groups of people inside the mall. Officers, who were working off-duty at mall, responded, and an armed subject was shot by an officer during the altercation, WCNC reported.
A woman in the parking lot of the mall, Tammy Byus, said on Twitter that she heard gunshots and saw many people running from the mall.
Byus took two photos of the scene that showed crowds running outside.
One viewer told WCNC that the shooting occurred near the Apple Store inside the mall.
Twitter users are reporting the mall is being evacuated, while others are reporting they are hiding inside locked stores, WCNC reported.
“Food and sodas were just flying in the air and people were running out the door,” a woman who was inside during the shooting told WCNC on camera outside the mall.
“I was shaking until 5 minutes ago. It was terrifying. It was terrifying to people inside with small kids. I heard them (parents) calling kids names — and it was very scary,” the woman said.
One person with minor injuries was taken to Novant in Huntersville, MEDIC told WBTV.
MEDIC says they are treating one patient with a leg injury, one patient with an asthma attack and one patient in labor.
