One Dead in Shooting at North Carolina Mall [UPDATED]
According to WSOCTV (and Twitter), an active shooter was reported at Northlake Mall in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Thursday afternoon.
The Charlotte Observer reported that three people were being treated: one with a leg injury; one who had gone into labor; and one who had an asthma attack.
People came running out of the mall like crazy!!! Northlake mall now. @WBTV pic.twitter.com/EFVMiND7oo
— Tammy Byus (@TammyByus) December 24, 2015
Witness says officer shot and killed gunman inside @ShopNorthlakeNC he heard arguing before shooting @WBTV_News pic.twitter.com/hXvglWSGfJ
— Dedrick Russell WBTV (@dedrickrussell) December 24, 2015
Update – 2:58 pm
WSOCTV reports that police officers and paramedics descended upon the mall just before 2pm on Thursday. According to WBTV, witnesses heard around seven shots being fired.
Update – 3:25 pm
Multiple outlets are reporting that the suspect at the mall was shot and killed by police.
Jasmine, an employee at Aldo inside the mall, told Fox News there were about five or six gunshots. Aldo employees immediately closed the store gate and went to the back room, Jasmine said. Eventually, mall security came and told people to evacuate, she said.
Jasmine said the shots originated about 100 feet from the Aldo entrance. She said emergency crews had a stretcher near the scene of the shooting.
Update – 3:35 pm
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police confirmed to the Observer that at least one person was shot and killed at the Northlake Mall on Thursday. However:
It was not immediately clear whether an officer fired any shots.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said early information indicates an argument started inside the mall around 2 p.m. Thursday between two groups of people. Officers who were working off-duty at the mall arrived on the scene.
At least one person was shot during the altercation, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene by Medic.
No officers were hurt, according to CMPD.
A graphic photo emerged on social media of a young black man’s body—purportedly the shooter’s—lying on the ground, white t-shirt covered in blood, with a police officer standing over him. Police have not yet announced the shooter’s identity, but local Twitter users speculated that the suspect was area rapper Donkey Cartel.
Update – 4:21 pm
CMPD has not yet scheduled a press conference, but did release a statement on the shooting, confirming that one armed subject was shot and killed: “Preliminary information on scene indicates that an argument started inside the mall between two groups of subjects around 2 p.m., at which point officers who were working off-duty at the mall arrived on scene,” the statement read. “No officers were injured during this shooting. This was NOT an active shooter situation.”
Witnesses tell @WBTV_News @ShopNorthlakeNC shooting was in retaliation to shooting that happened last week of deceased suspect's brother.
— Dedrick Russell WBTV (@dedrickrussell) December 24, 2015
Contact the author of this post: brendan.oconnor@gawker.com.