North Carolina police respond to reports of a shooting at mall after 'loud sound' sends people scrambling

'Preliminary investigation' found no shots were actually fired

People shopping at Southpoint Mall in Durham, North Carolina, went scrambling for exits after a "loud sound" went off in the shopping center on Sunday afternoon. 

Officers from the Durham Police Department responded to the mall after receiving reports of shooting, but a "preliminary investigation revealed that no shots were fired," according to the Durham Police Department. 

A spokesperson for mall owner Brookfield Properties also said the report of a shooting was a false alarm. 

"There was unfortunately a fight in the food court and some furniture fell that made noise, but there were no shots," the spokesperson told Fox News. 

PENNSYLVANIA MALL SHOOTING LEAVES 4 PEOPLE SHOT, 2 OTHERS INJURED

Two people were inured in the fight that broke out and two others suffered minor injuries while fleeing the scene, according to WNCN

Conor McClure, a resident of nearby Chapel Hill, said he was in the store Loft when he heard a loud sound followed by people scrambling for the exit. 

"Heard a loud sound, almost sounded like thunder or someone moving heavy furniture. Didn't think it sounded like a shot. Thought nothing of it," McClure told Fox News. "Shortly after, saw tons of people running out of the main building."

A desk attendant at the Durham Police Department confirmed around 3:54 p.m. that officers were responding to a report of a shooting at the mall. 

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McClure said he was cleared to leave the mall about 30 minutes after going into lockdown and that there were five or six police cars and ambulances outside. 

The two-story Southpoint Mall features about 180 stores and a movie theater. 

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