DUNWOODY, Ga. — Two men were wounded after an argument led to a shootout inside Perimeter Mall Friday evening, Dunwoody Police said.
Officers responded to Perimeter Mall at 4:45 p.m. in reference to a "shots fired" call. When officers arrived, they began canvassing the mall and found the victim on the lower level near the food court with a gunshot wound.
Sgt. Michael Cheek with the Dunwoody Police Department said detectives later confirmed that that man had been in an argument with another man, and when the other man pulled a gun and shot at him, he pulled his own gun and returned fire. Both men were struck and wounded. Cheek said the man who fired first was arrested and charged.
"This was an isolated incident and there is no threat to the public," Dunwoody
11Alive SkyTracker flew over the mall, where dozens of police cars and fire trucks were seen outside the area of the food court and Maggiano's.
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Photos | Shooting at Perimeter Mall
Customers and employees at the mall said they heard about five or six shots.
"There was screaming and running. It was just insane," Tamra Karnley said. "There was no time to really think, it was just like, go, go!"
It was after speaking with witnesses and checking security camera video when investigators were able to get a description of the suspect and his car. The descriptions were given to all surrounding law enforcement agencies, which led them to the Pleasantdale Crossing Apartments in Doraville – about 14 minutes away.
The suspect was taken into custody without incident, police said.
"Officers discovered the suspect has also been shot when he was located," Dunwoody Police said. "The suspect and the victim are...stable...at Grady Hospital."
"We heard rapid fire shots, about five to six of them," said Nancy Myerson. She said she and her husband, Sammy Carden, ran into the backroom of the Victoria's Secret store, with dozens of others, and hid. And they posted on social media, trying to get someone to tell them if it was safe to leave.
"Everyone was just more concerned because there were no windows, so we couldn’t see what was going on and we didn’t know what was happening," Myerson said. "It makes you want to, just, go online to buy your products and not gingerly shop for lingerie in a mall when something like this happened on just a random Friday."
Dunwoody Police said its investigation remains ongoing.
This is a developing story. Check back often for new information.
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