Fayetteville Police Department said it got a call about a shooting shortly before 1 p.m. Police said Michael William Floyd, 51, got into an argument with an employee in the food court and then left the mall before returning with a gun. Floyd then entered an employees-only area where he got into an altercation with the employee.
During the altercation, a gunshot was fired and the employee was able to disarm Floyd. He left the mall and was taken into custody.
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Witness Rob Williams said he saw a man in the parking lot walking into the food court with a gun in his hand, tucking it in his pants, and pulling his shirt over it.
Other witnesses told ABC11, the man then opened fire after getting into a spat with some workers at Primo Pizza in the food court.
Williams said he heard screaming and saw people running around. He then recognized the man he saw with the gun earlier, drew his own gun, and told the man to get on the ground.
"He kept saying, 'It wasn't me, it wasn't me, it wasn't me, it wasn't me.' And I was like 'No, it was you. I saw you when you walked in. and then shortly after you walk in with a gun, something happens? it was you,'" Williams said.
He said at that moment an undercover officer then came over and took the man into custody.
Police arrested and charged Floyd with discharging a firearm enclosed space to incite fear, possession of firearm by felon, second degree Kidnapping, assault by strangulation, and assault with a deadly weapon.
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Cross Creek Mall is located in eastern Fayetteville between All American Freeway and Skibo Road.
No injuries were reported.