Police: 1 person shot at Cumberland Mall, suspect on the run

Police have confirmed shots were fired inside Cumberland Mall Saturday afternoon in Cobb County.

Cobb County police said it was not an active shooter situation and the shots were not fired randomly. The shooting started during an argument in the food court, according to a Cobb police spokeswoman.

Police have not confirmed what the argument was about, but said two people were involved in the shooting. One person was shot and taken to the hospital for treatment.

Police told Channel 2′s Michael Seiden the person is expected to survive.

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Police said they are searching for a man who left the scene. The man’s description has not been released at this time. After a security sweep of the mall, police said they do not believe he is still inside the mall.

“We are working hand in hand with the mall right now and our search teams have pulled out,” Officer Sarah O’Hara said.

The mall reopened shortly after 4:30 p.m. Saturday, but the food court remains closed.

The sound of gunshots sent hundreds of shoppers running for the exits. Some even lost their shoes as they ran for cover.

Adrian Matthews was inside a store when a fight broke out in the food court. Then he heard the gunshots.

“Everybody in the store pretty much fled to the back rooms of Bath and Body Works and piled up just to be as safe as they could," he said.

As detectives work to determine a motive, many people are left wondering how a day of holiday shopping turned into a terrifying afternoon.

“There was a lady with her children. She was in pure pandemonium. She didn’t know what was going on. There was elderly woman on the floor. I don’t think she could move that fast , so two other gentleman were helping her take cover in the back,” Matthews said.

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