Richmond police

Argument Leads to Shooting Outside Hilltop Mall in Richmond, Charter School Placed Under Lockdown: Police

Police are investigating a shooting outside a shoe store at Hilltop Mall in Richmond.

No injuries were reported in the shooting reported Thursday afternoon.

According to Lt. Andre Hill of the Richmond Police Department, an argument broke out between two people outside the Shiekh shoe store at the mall's parking lot. Witnesses said two men drew guns and started shooting at each other.

"I opened this car door, put the shirt in there that I just bought, and the only reason I knew is because I felt the glass hit my arm," said Ken Kirsch, a shopper who was caught in the crossfire. "If I'd been sitting there that would have been a whole different story."

A nearby charter school was temporarily placed on precautionary lockdown during the police response and investigation. Students from the school tweeted about the lockdown from their personal accounts. One student tweeted that 10 shots were fired.

Both shooters are described as being in their 20s and have not been located, police said.

Detectives are looking into the possibility the shooting may have been gang related.

No other information was immediately available.

Contact Us