ELIZABETH, N.J. (1010 WINS) -- A fight broke out at a food court in at a popular mall in New Jersey on Monday, leading to "pandemonium" and a "stampede," but police say no shots were fired, despite rumors from panicked shoppers.
The chaos unfolded at the The Mills at Jersey Gardens in Elizabeth sometime between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. when people got into a fight in the food court, police say.
"A freaking stampede just occurred at jersey gardens. With how crazy the world is no one knew what was happening just running and screaming to get out," one Twitter user posted.
"A loud bang and then pandemonium," wrote another.
A loud bang and then pandemonium. #Jerseygardens
— Trinitydawn🍒 #LostSemite...Ban the sore #loser (@shelbyricher) December 23, 2019
Reports of shots being fired at the mall quickly spread, leading to a lockdown.
Video on social media shows emergency vehicles racing to the mall.
Back home for the holidays and first thing that happens is a shooting in jersey gardens mall smh pic.twitter.com/1lBfAfdKMh
— YERRRR💎🌁 (@GSWKinta111) December 23, 2019
Police said around 3 p.m. that no shots were fired and that the fight in the food court had been brought under control.
The lockdown was lifted and businesses have since reopened.
We are receiving multiple calls about a shooting @ Jersey Gardens-this is not true, no shots were fired. A fight occurred in the food court & is under control. The lock down has been lifted. No injuries reported, business is resuming & the Eliz Police are remaining highly visible
— City of Elizabeth NJ (@CityofElizabeth) December 23, 2019
No injuries have been reported. Elizabeth police said they will have a visible presence after the incident.
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