Suspects sought after guns fired in air at S.C. mall

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Police were looking for two suspects Saturday night in connection with a shooting inside a South Carolina mall that left no one injured but many people frightened.

Columbia Police Chief William Holbrook said the incident began at around 7 p.m. ET with a fist fight outside a Kay Jewelers near the food court at the Columbiana Mall. Two of the participants pulled out guns and fired shots into the air, he said.

Police have not found anyone who was shot inside the mall, and local hospitals and clinics have not reported anyone with gunshot injuries.

Surveillance footage captured two men running from the premises, Holbrook said. A third person was seen on video, but officers believe he was trying to break up the scuffle and he will not be charged.

Police have received multiple reports from people who believed they spotted the suspects. "We're running all those down," Holbrook said.

Shoppers described massive panic after the shots rang out.

“They were all running and leaving stuff behind, like there were snakes behind them,” said Stacey Haltiwanger, owner of the Sassy and Classy boutique in the mall.

Lori Easterwood, an employee of WLTX-TV, said she was in a Claire's boutique when employees heard the shots. Employees then closed the store and ushered everyone into a back room. Law enforcement officials later told her to leave the building, and she was allowed to go into her car.

"There were about 12 to 15 officers in our area," Easterwood said.

Holbrook said there were still people believed to be hiding in stores.

Holbrook said he expected the mall to be open Sunday.

Contributing: The Associated Press