One injured in shooting at Tacoma Mall food court on Black Friday

TACOMA, Wash. — Authorities said one person was injured in a shooting Friday evening at the Tacoma Mall food court as crowds gathered for Black Friday shopping.

Police were called to the Tacoma Mall just after 7 p.m. Friday for reports of a shooting. A spokesperson said officers working in the mall saw a small group that got into a dispute and escalated with gunfire.

Authorities said one victim was found with a gunshot wound and the suspects fled the mall. There are no suspects in custody, the spokesperson said.

Officers secured the mall after a secondary sweep revealed there was no active threat to the public.

WATCH: Tacoma Mall shooting press conference

As heavily armed police officers took up positions around the food court, people inside described how their holiday shopping became a race to save their lives.

“We were about to get up and I hear about six shots or something,” said Daisey Dockter, who was just finishing a meal with her aunt and uncle when a gunman opened fire nearby and chaos broke out. “We all just start running toward the door. It's a huge mob of people. Everyone's kind of pushing.”

Shops and stores started going on lockdown and people who couldn't get outside quickly looked for places to hide.

“Our doors were locked," said Peyton Comstock, who works at BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse. "Nobody could come in. We took in people obviously that were scared. There was a poor mom and daughter. She was so terrified. I felt so bad. (She was) like hyperventilating."

At least two uniformed officers were at a table in the food court when the shooting began and both leaped into action. Paul Moore, who is a paramedic, was eating nearby wondered if he should follow the police to help anybody who was hurt, or rush out with his family to make sure they were safe.

“I saw the two officers run toward where the shots were going but then i was like, do I stay, do I go?" Moore said. "But then I saw them running and I was likeI need to stay with them so I just ran out with them."

Witnesses said at one point it seemed like it was everyone for themselves. Comstock said it is a wake-up call that an emergency plan needs to be in place.

“This isn't something that we talk about,” Comstock said. “I'm thinking for sure this is something they'll cover now because this is scary and we didn't know how to handle it."

Officers urged the public to avoid going to the mall while police are at the scene.

The Tacoma Police Department took all unaccompanied juveniles are at the Tacoma Mall Transit Center to be picked up.

More than 60 units from multiple law enforcement agencies were investigating.