Person shot during argument inside Lumberton Walmart; Shooter at large: Police

LUMBERTON, N.C. (WPDE) — Police officers were on the scene at the Walmart Supercenter on Fayetteville Road in Lumberton Friday.

According to officials, one person was shot in the hip following an argument inside the store. He’s currently in the hospital.

The patrol cars were parked at the entrance of the store. Police say the incident was called in around 11:26 a.m.

Once police arrived at the store, it was still being evacuated, and officers entered the building trying to locate the shooter and any victims. After searching the building, officers did not locate the shooter or any victims.

However, surveillance video showed the shooter fleeing the store as it was being evacuated.

Within a few minutes, the police department says they were alerted that a person had arrived at UNC Health Southeastern with a gunshot wound that was not life-threatening.

It appeared to be an isolated incident between two individuals who are familiar with each other, according to police.

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The suspect has been identified and investigators are attempting to locate him at this time. Police tell us the name of the suspect is being withheld for now.

As of right now, the Lumberton Police Department is not aware of any other customers or employees suffering injuries as a result of this incident.

This shooting left many Black Friday shoppers in shock and scared.

Kristie Branch and one other shopper, who asked to not be named, go to this Walmart frequently.

They were both out Black Friday shopping when they heard someone yelling and arguing.

They said that’s when they heard multiple shots fired.

"Me and the cashier looked at each other, and everybody else at the other registers their heads all went in the direction of where the sound was coming from and then I seen a man run through going to the other side of the store and all of a sudden that’s when I heard pow, pow, pow, pow, pow," Branch said.

“I squatted down. I reached out to the top of my buggy and I grabbed my pocketbook and I ran as fast as I could to get out of there," Branch said.

She said when the shots were fired, chaos broke out.

“I remember seeing a lot of people run. Everybody was screaming ‘run, run’- just screaming- and as hard as I could go. I don’t remember who I passed by," Branch said.

One man was shopping with his wife. They hid in a nearby aisle.

“My wife started kind of panicking. And I’ve always been the type to stay calm. So I said ‘hey, let’s go’ we ran out the store," he said.

He said that he has to go through active shooter training for his job

But never thought he’d live through it.

“I never thought I’d use it at work much less shopping at a Walmart," he said.

Both people are also parents, they said they’re thankful that their kids weren’t with them at the time of the shooting.

A woman inside the store said, “I was scared for my life, I ran as fast as I could to get out.”

A man shopping in the store added, “It started as a big commotion. Then, 'bang bang.'"

Community members also said they saw a man being walked out by officers in handcuffs.

According to a sign outside the store, it reopened Saturday at 6 a.m.

There are no further details to release at this time.

Stay with ABC15 for updates.