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

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. 

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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.