An officer-involved shooting closed the Concord Mills mall in North Carolina on Wednesday. Authorities secured the area but said there was no danger to the public. 

“With the assistance of the NC SBI, we are currently investigating an officer involved shooting at Concord Mills Mall. The scene is secure at this time and there is no danger to the public. More details will follow. Media staging area is being established,” Concord police tweeted. 

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The mall is located in Cabarrus County near Interstate 85 just north of the Mecklenburg County line. 

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On Wednesday afternoon, two Concord police officers went to the mall after receiving a report from a person saying three people stole their credit card from them while they were shopping in one of the stores.

Officers were able to quickly find the suspects as the caller had described what he was wearing and where he was. However, just when the officers were about to catch them, the suspects fled back into the mall, resulting in a chase. 

During the chase, one of the suspects flashed a handgun. The officers gave him multiple commands to drop the weapon but he fired one shot in the officers’ direction. The officers returned fire, hitting the suspect. He was rushed to a local hospital in a critical condition. 

Witnesses told WCNC Charlotte that they heard four sirens over the intercom. They hid in the back of a fitting room when someone told them to get inside a store. 

“All I was thinking about was the kids we were with and trying to help out and make sure they were OK,” the witnesses told the outlet. 

Heavy police presence was observed outside the mall.