LAUDERHILL, Fla. – Police said a 911 caller reported seeing a man firing a gun into the air and running inside a Lauderhill grocery store Thursday afternoon, prompting a massive search for a shooter.
"I seen everybody running, so I went to running to," one man, who was at the shopping center, told Local 10 News.
Lauderhill police said on Twitter that there were reports of an active shooter at the Winn-Dixie at the Lauderhill Mall.
"The 911 caller then followed the individual into the Winn-Dixie, and that's the last time they saw this individual," Lt. Michael Santiago said. "At no time did they say he was shooting at an individual person."
Police said the Broward Sheriff's Office SWAT team was called and searched the store, but no shooter was found.
Lauderhill Police investigating reports of an active shooter 1531 NSR7 Winn Dixie. Community asked to avoid area. PIO on scene pic.twitter.com/tVktSiCQIe
— LauderhillPDPIO (@LPDPIO) October 12, 2017
Schools in the area were placed on lockdown as a precaution.
Local 10 News reporter Terrell Forney said parts of the mall were blocked off, but other portions remained open.
"I stayed there for more than an hour, and they locked everything down," one shopper, Umaine Louis-Jean, said.
Forney said there was a large police presence at the scene.
"We are currently monitoring the situation," regional Winn-Dixie spokesman Joe Caldwell said in a statement. "We are taking this matter very seriously because the trust and safety of our customers and associates is our highest priority. We are fully cooperating with the Lauderhill Police Department and Broward County Sheriff's Office on this active investigation and defer any updates to them while details are still being confirmed."
Sky 10 was flying above the mall as Winn-Dixie employees could be seen returning to the store.
Police said they are reviewing surveillance video from the area to get a better understanding of what happened.
Authorities said the only person who claimed to hear gunfire in the area was the 911 caller.