1st LD-Writethru: Gunman killed by police in shooting at U.S. mall on Christmas Eve

A gunman has been shot dead Thursday by police who responded to reports of a shooting at a mall in Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. media reported.

The shooting resulted from an altercation involving a group of people inside the Northlake Mall, which was crowded with people on last-minute shopping for holiday gifts on the Christmas Eve, according to the reports.

One people pulled a gun and opened fire and injured one of the men, various reports quoted witnesses as saying. The shooting occurred near the Apple store inside the mall.

The gunman was shot and killed by an officer from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department who responded to reports of the shooting.

The scene was chaotic after the shooting as people raced to flee the mall, and many people sought shelters inside the stores.

The mall was evacuated after the shooting incident, as dozens of police vehicles, ambulances and firetrucks arrived at the mall.

One patient reportedly suffered a leg injury, another patient had an asthma attack and one pregnant woman was in labor possibly due to the shock, media reports said.

The exact cause of the shooting and the identities of the gunman remained unknown.

The United States has been on high alert against terror attacks during the holiday season, following the shooting attack in San Bernardino, California on Dec. 2.

Fourteen people were killed and 21 others were wounded in the attack perpetrated by a U.S. couple, reportedly radicalized by the terror group Islamic State. Endit