Shoppers scatter at Crabtree Valley Mall after fight breaks out: Raleigh Police

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- There was a heavy police presence at Crabtree Valley Mall on Saturday evening with some customers seen running after what they thought were gunshots.

"We were just looking around and we just saw people running, so we got scared because when you see people running, you have to hide somewhere," Maria Cortez said.

Cortez, who was back-to-school shopping with family, said she was at the Aeropostale store when the store manager told them to hide in the back of the store before they unlocked it several minutes later.

"She finally let us out but we had to go look for our siblings," Cortez said.

Cortez was outside the mall as of 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, waiting to meet her siblings who she said were OK and communicating via text message.

"Having to experience that like right now ... it's just really, really scary," Cortez said.

Some shoppers said they heard a few gunshots while others just saw the crowd running.

Raleigh Police said no shots were fired at Crabtree Valley Mall, but that a "reported fight" broke out, which was soon contained.

"No arrests were made. The individuals involved have dispersed and there is no threat to the public," Stacy Smith said.

Raleigh resident Pete Flecha was at Clarks when he saw the commotion.

"All of a sudden heard a lot of screaming," Flecha said. "And then about 50 people came running into the store that we were at, like a panic."

Flecha was about to buy a pair of shoes for a business trip when he was shuffled into the back room. He said he didn't hear any gunshots but the scary experience was a final blow for Flecha living in the U.S.

"We're moving to Portugal for this very reason," Flecha said. "We've been talking about it for about a year and this expedited our plans. We're over it, I'm just over it."

A heavy police and ambulance presence descended on the mall, but police cleared the scene just before 8 p.m.