3 charged with attempted murder after shots fired at Berkeley Mall in Goldsboro

Police responded to Berkeley Mall in Goldsboro after learning that shots were fired on Thursday.

Authorities arrived at the mall along Berkeley Boulevard just before noon. Police said no one was shot and three people were taken into custody from the incident.

Jalil McDuffie, De’Maj Oates and Tywan Bennett were all charged with attempted murder, discharging a firearm in an enclosure, going armed to the terror of the public and carrying a concealed gun. The three men are set to appear in court on Friday.

Sky 5 flew over the scene as the situation unfolded around 12:30 p.m. The mall was put on lockdown along with Greenwood Middle School on Ash Street. The mall was closed for the day and will reopen on Friday.

"We were looking around like 'are they shooting, what is going on,'" said Rue 21 employee Bianca Thomas. "We saw a ton of people, a lot of people running out of the mall."

Employees of the mall who spoke with WRAL News said they heard more than 10 gunshots coming from Foot Locker and added the incident started as a fight between two groups.

Meadow Lane Elementary and North Drive Elementary were also placed on lockdown. All of the school lockdowns were lifted around 1:30 p.m. A daycare near the mall was placed on a soft lockdown.

"Words cannot describe the amount of fear that is put in a parent when you are told your school is on lockdown and can't get your 4-year-old," said Deana Grooms, who has a child at the daycare.

The men were arrested on Cashwell Drive. Several firearms were taken from them. Those involved in the shooting knew each other and the act was not random, according to police.

North Carolina State Highway Patrol troopers, Wayne County Sheriff's deputies and local firefighters also responded.