CHARLOTTE, N.C. » One person was killed after an argument erupted at a crowded shopping mall in North Carolina on the afternoon before Christmas, police said today.

Detectives from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department are investigating what the department called “an officer involved shooting” inside the Northlake Mall in Charlotte.

Police said in a statement that off-duty officers who were working at the mall arrived at the scene after the fight broke out. One “armed” person was shot and pronounced dead at the scene.

No officers were injured.

The police statement said that the situation was not considered “an active shooter situation,” an indication that no armed suspects were on the loose. An investigation is ongoing.

Jeff Keith, deputy director with Mecklenburg EMS, said the mall was closed but people were still hiding in stores and were trying to get out. Police said that family members should go to the AMC parking lot to look for relatives.