Two shot at Triangle Town Center in Raleigh, police search for suspect

A man and a woman were transported to area hospitals after gunfire erupted inside the mall Friday afternoon, prompting a large emergency response and a search of nearby woods.

Raleigh police are investigating a shooting at Triangle Town Center that left two people injured Friday afternoon. Officers responded to multiple 911 calls around 3:30 p.m. EDT reporting shots fired inside the mall at 5959 Triangle Town Boulevard. A man and a woman were found with gunshot wounds and transported to local hospitals. Their conditions have not been released.

The scene has been declared secure with no ongoing active threat to the public, according to Raleigh Police Department. However, no suspect is in custody. Officers are actively searching the woods across from the Belk store, near an apartment complex. A large emergency response remains on scene, including tactical units, patrol cars, ambulances, and fire department vehicles.

Timeline of the Shooting and Police Response

The first reports of gunfire came in between 3:30 and 3:58 p.m. EDT on April 17, 2026. Multiple 911 callers described shots fired during an altercation inside the mall. The exact location – whether the food court, a store, or interior walkway – has not been officially confirmed. Within minutes, a heavy police presence descended on the shopping center.

WRAL’s Sky 5 helicopter provided live overhead footage showing dozens of emergency vehicles clustered near mall entrances, including areas by Dillard’s and Belk. Initial reports triggered “active shooter” alerts inside the mall, causing panic among shoppers and employees. Entrances were locked down temporarily before people were evacuated to the parking lot.

Raleigh Police declared the scene secure by late afternoon, shifting the focus to evidence processing, surveillance review, and witness interviews. The investigation remains active and preliminary. No official statement on the number of shots fired or a motive has been released.

Victims and Suspect Search Underway

The two victims – a man and a woman – were transported to area hospitals. As of late Friday afternoon, no updates on their conditions (stable, critical, or non-life-threatening) have been made public. Their identities and ages have not been released.

The suspect remains at large. Raleigh Police are searching the woods across from the Belk store, near an apartment complex, as part of the investigation. No description of the shooter has been provided. Officers have not indicated whether the suspect fled on foot or used a vehicle.

This shooting is distinct from a previous incident at the same mall on April 8, 2026. That event involved shots fired between two groups in the parking lot, with no reported victims at the scene, followed by a police chase and a crash in Wake Forest. Friday’s incident occurred inside the mall and involved confirmed gunshot wounds.

Eyewitness Accounts of Chaos and Lockdown

Mall employees and shoppers described a sudden, terrifying scene. A mall employee told CBS17: “They said there was an active shooter. We basically were all scattering trying to figure out what was going on. Five to 10 minutes later, we had a swarm of police come into our store and they told us to go out of the store, and now we’re all waiting in the parking lot trying to figure out what was going on.”

Initial “active shooter” announcements led people to shelter in place inside stores and back hallways. Entrances were locked down temporarily. Some witnesses reported hearing multiple gunshots, though the exact number remains unconfirmed. Within minutes, officers swarmed the building. Afterwards, directing people to evacuate to the parking lot.

The scene outside showed hundreds of people standing in the lot as emergency vehicles filled the area. Aerial footage captured the massive police and ambulance presence. Many shoppers were visibly shaken, some on their phones trying to reach family members. No further injuries beyond the two victims have been reported.

Social Media Reacts to Breaking News Footage

As news of the shooting spread, X (formerly Twitter) became flooded with unverified claims and real-time updates. Many users initially posted about an “active shooter” situation and shelter-in-place orders, before police clarified the scene was secure. Aerial footage from WRAL’s Sky 5 helicopter was widely shared, showing dozens of police SUVs, ambulances, and a fire truck packed into the mall parking lot.

One user wrote, “Praying for everyone at Triangle Town Center. This is terrifying.” Another posted, “I was just there an hour ago. Unbelievable.” Some criticized the initial confusion, with one comment stating, “Why did it take so long to confirm it wasn’t an active shooter?” Others expressed frustration over the lack of suspect information.

Several local journalists provided live updates on X, helping to separate confirmed facts from rumors. The Raleigh Police Department urged the public to avoid the area and rely on official channels for information. As of late Friday, no arrest had been announced, and the search for the suspect continued.

Ongoing Investigation and Public Safety Warnings

Raleigh Police have not issued a detailed public statement beyond confirming the shooting and that the scene is secure. Officers are processing evidence, reviewing surveillance footage, and interviewing witnesses. The woods across from Belk remain a focus of the search for the suspect.

Police are urging the public to avoid Triangle Town Center entirely while the investigation continues. No timeline has been given for when the mall will reopen. Local outlets CBS17 and WRAL are providing live coverage and updates as new information becomes available.

The shooting raises renewed questions about security at the mall, especially following the April 8 parking lot incident. No connection between the two events has been established. For now, the priority remains locating the suspect and providing medical care to the victims. Further updates are expected from Raleigh Police in the coming hours.

Conclusion

Two people are in the hospital. A shooter is on the run. And a Raleigh mall that has seen violence before is locked down again. Triangle Town Center became the scene of chaos Friday afternoon when gunfire sent shoppers scattering and police swarming.

The scene is secure, but the suspect remains at large. Investigators are searching woods, reviewing footage, and pleading for tips. For the victims and their families, the waiting continues. For the community, the fear is real.

And for law enforcement, the hunt is just beginning.