Charlotte North Carolina Shopping

(Reuters) - An armed male in a fight inside a mall full of xmas consumers in Charlotte, North Carolina, was shot by an off-duty officer working security and died in the scene on Thursday, police said.

The officer heard shots among two groups of those who found myself in a fight and experienced the person, whom pointed their gun during the officer, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Chief Kerr Putney told a news meeting. The officer shot the guy.

It had been not known if he previously fired during the officer.

"This is not a random work of physical violence, " Putney said of incident.

He couldn't recognize the man whom passed away, or even the officer, that has been positioned on administrative leave, after police protocol.

Putney added your battle was not gang-related and stated weapons had been bought at the scene.

The shopping center was evacuated, but there was clearly no continuing hazard, said Jeff Keith, deputy manager associated with Mecklenburg crisis healthcare Services Agency.

“With all the things that have took place this country previously couple of years, we should guarantee people that this can be an isolated, particular occasion, maybe not of every random nature, ” he said, without commenting in the reports of this death.

The event happened near a footwear store on the floor degree, and also at least a couple had been injured in a crush of individuals attempting to flee the scene, authorities said.