Panic at Charlotte, North Carolina shopping mall amid reports of gunshots

Washington: Panic erupted at a US mall packed with Christmas Eve shoppers Thursday, amid reports of a shooting inside. Local broadcaster WBTV said the incident happened at the Northlake Mall in Charlotte, North Carolina. The CBS affiliate, citing an unnamed witness, said that a gunman was shot and killed by an officer. CNN also reported that one person had been shot by an officer after pulling out a gun during a confrontation, but it said his condition was unclear. On its Twitter feed, WBTV quoted a witness as saying there was arguing before shots were fired, also suggesting the shooting was the result of a dispute of some sort. Frantic shoppers reportedly ran out of stores seeking shelter, with one woman telling WBTV that she hid in a storage room. AFP