BREAKING: Panic Grips Independence Mall in Wilmington, NC as Active Shooter Reports Spark Chaos

A heavy police presence was deployed at Independence Mall in Wilmington, North Carolina, on Tuesday after multiple reports of a potential active shooter situation. The mall, located at 3500 Oleander Drive, was the focal point of an investigation by the Wilmington Police Department, who confirmed they were looking into reports of a person with a gun. According to eyewitnesses, the situation unfolded around 3:45 p.m. when authorities received multiple 911 calls indicating someone may have been armed. At least one caller reported hearing gunfire, but police have not confirmed whether any shots were fired. Several witnesses took to social media to describe the chaotic scene, with many claiming they were trapped inside the mall. "I was in Dick's Sporting Goods when people started screaming and running," said one witness. "I had to run out of the mall with my baby, it was terrifying.