An argument inside a store at a DeKalb County mall ended in chaos Tuesday evening when someone fired a gun, authorities said.
DeKalb police were called to The Gallery at South DeKalb at 6 p.m. to investigate a report of shots fired. No one was reported injured, according to police spokeswoman Michaela Vincent.
“A dispute between two groups of people inside one of the stores led to a physical altercation,” she said. “At some point, someone fired a gun.”
Investigators are still working to identify those involved.
The shooting follows other recent acts of violence at shopping centers across metro Atlanta.
In February, three teenagers were injured in a shooting at Camp Creek Marketplace in East Point, prompting a citywide curfew.
Ten people, mostly teenagers, were arrested later that month on gang-related charges in connection with a Jan. 2 brawl at Arbor Place Mall in Douglasville. Another fight at the mall in December resulted in a shooting.
In December, multiple shootings were reported in Buckhead’s shopping district, including the bout of gunfire outside Phipps Plaza that killed a 7-year-old girl who was Christmas shopping with her family.
Another massive fight broke out at Atlantic Station in November involving about 300 unsupervised teenagers.
Following a spate of shootings last weekend, the Atlanta Police Department made a public plea for “people with poor conflict management skills” to put down their guns. Two people were killed in 14 incidents around the city, although none were reported at shopping centers.
“The Atlanta Police Department is committed to reducing crime and keeping our streets safe, but we need your help,” the department said in a statement. “We cannot be in every living room, hotel, bar, parking lot, or the myriad of other spaces where disagreements occur. People have to stop the violence before it starts.”
Anyone with information about the Gallery at DeKalb Mall incident or any other recent shooting can remain anonymous, and be eligible for rewards of up to $2,000, by contacting Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-8477, texting information to 274637 or visiting the Crime Stoppers website.
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