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A gunman has been shot dead by police after opening fire at the Northlake Mall in Charlotte, North Carolina, officials say. (more)

Channel 9 reporter Jason Stoogenke said he saw more than 30 police cruisers at the mall.

Three separate witnesses told him that two people were involved in a fight inside a shoe store when one pulled a gun and shot and killed the other.

Witnesses said police confronted the gunman and told him to drop his weapon, and when he did not, officers shot that person.

Police have not confirmed those details.

It was unclear if officials had closed the mall

Reports of the shooting came in at about 2 p.m. ET on Thursday, but few details were immediately available. Witnesses reported hearing at least seven gunshots being fired at the mall, and hundreds of terrified shoppers were seen fleeing from the stores as officers rushed to the scene.

The Mecklenburg EMS Agency reported at least one patient who was suffering from a leg injury, but medics were also tending to a woman in labor and a patient with an asthma attack. It is unclear if there are any other victims. The mall is being evacuated, and SWAT is responding.

Charlotte police confirmed that an officer-involved shooting had occurred, but the status of the shooter was not immediately clear. A witness and a police source confirmed to WBTV that the shooter was shot and killed by a police officer who responded to the scene.

The Charlotte Fire Department said it was receiving an "unusually high call volume" as a result of the shooting, and urged residents to use 911 for emergencies only. People with non-emergency calls and questions should call 311 instead.

Northlake Mall includes stores such as Dillard's, Macy's, Belk, Dick's Sporting Goods, and more than 150 other stores and restaurants, as well as an AMC 14-screen cinema.

This is a breaking news alert. Please check back or follow @BNONews on Twitter as details become available. If you want to receive breaking news alerts by email, click here to sign up. You can also like us on Facebook by clicking here.

Scene at mall @WCCBCharlotte pic.twitter.com/wXJTX2Fmew

— courtney francisco (@cjfranciscowccb) December 24, 2015

Dozens of police responding to Northlake Mall. pic.twitter.com/8FgqWXGpWL

— Jason Stoogenke (@action9) December 24, 2015

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