UPDATE 7:25 p.m. ET: Raleigh Police are continuing their investigation into a reported gunman and shots fired at the Crabtree Valley Mall, but the situation is "de-escalating," according to Police Chief Cassandra Deck-Brown. "We have not determined that there was a shooter," the chief said in a press briefing, but people are still not allowed back in to retrieve their belongings or their cars, "until we can render everything safe for all, no one goes into the mall." WRAL reports that police have not found any shell casings or victims with gunshot wounds, but eight people were treated for injuries sustained in the chaos as they tried to escape the shopping center.
Original story below:
A North Carolina shopping mall was placed on lockdown on Saturday, August 13, after police responded to reports of a shooting in the food court.
WTVD-TV reported that multiple eyewitnesses said shots were fired at approximately 2:30 p.m. local time on Saturday afternoon at Crabtree Valley Mall in Raleigh.
One man told the local news outlet that he heard about five or six shots while shopping with his family, calling the incident “the scariest thing I went through in my life.”
Another eyewitness said “pandemonium broke out” at the food court after people heard “something pop.” She added that she “played dead” with her children before someone urged her to get out of the mall.
WRAL-TV reported that authorities were not allowing shoppers in or out of the mall as of 4:20 p.m. local time.
One woman shared a video from inside of the mall shortly after the shooting reportedly occurred. In the Twitter clip, crowds of people, including several children, are seen running out of the mall and screaming.
No suspects have been arrested yet, and no shoppers have been found injured, according to WTVD-TV.
Story developing.
