Executive Summary
- Witnesses reported shots fired at a TJ Maxx store in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.
- Social media accounts described customers and staff barricading themselves inside the store.
- Police in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, confirmed a separate mall lockdown was a false alarm with no evidence of gunfire.
- Law enforcement has not yet released official details regarding the North Carolina incident.
Reports of a potential active shooter situation emerged Friday at a TJ Maxx department store in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, prompting concern among local residents and shoppers. While details remain preliminary, witnesses on the scene described hearing gunfire within the shopping center chain located at 1480 Jeffreys Road.
According to posts on the social media platform X, individuals inside the store reported taking emergency defensive measures. One user stated that family members were barricaded inside a closet at the retailer, alleging that a gunman was firing weapon. As of the time of reporting, the Rocky Mount Police Department has not issued a formal statement confirming the presence of a shooter or the status of any potential victims.
In a separate but simultaneous incident on Friday, local media outlet WDAM 7 reported a lockdown at the Turtle Creek Mall in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, citing a heavy police presence. However, the City of Hattiesburg’s public information officer, John Arender, subsequently confirmed that there was no evidence of shots being fired. Arender noted that investigators found no shell casings and no victims at the scene, suggesting the Mississippi event was a false alarm.
Investigative Outlook
The situation in North Carolina remains fluid, with law enforcement likely prioritizing the immediate security of the facility and the evacuation of civilians. In instances of reported active shooters in retail environments, initial information can be fragmented. Police protocols typically involve a systematic sweep of the premises to locate any threat, followed by a forensic examination of the scene. Until authorities provide an official briefing, the classification of the event remains subject to ongoing investigation.
