COLUMBUS, Ohio — Two suspects remain at large after exchanging gunfire inside the Polaris Fashion Place mall Wednesday.

Columbus Police Sgt. James Fuqua said they have been identified, but he didn't give their names.

"We know there are many people in the community who know who these people are. We are strongly encouraging you to turn yourselves in and explain your side of the story. We just want a conclusion as quickly as possible," Fuqua said during a press conference. 

Police received calls from shoppers and workers that they heard gunshots around 12:30 p.m. Fuqua said two special duty officers were working at a different part of the mall when they heard the shots as well. 

Columbus Police, along with Columbus SWAT, the Franklin County Sheriff's Office and the Delaware County Sheriff's Office closed down the mall and slowly evacuated the building. They encouraged workers and shoppers to meet at the old Sears building parking lot at 1400 Polaris Pkwy.

Police said they carefully monitored people as they left the building. At the time, they thought it was possible that the suspects could have still been in the mall. 

Mall footage showed one suspect fired multiple gunshots at the other suspect while inside Carter's and Oshkosh B'Gosh on the lower level, according to authorities. The suspect who was fired at exited the mall and fired his weapon at the other suspect.

Fuqua said he believes the two suspects knew each other, and it wasn't declared an active shooter situation. Instead, Fuqua believes it was a domestic dispute. 

No injuries were reported. One kiosk had some damage. Fuqua said shell casings were found inside, but didn't go into details about where they were located or what kind of shells they were. 

Fuqua also said police recovered a weapon from underneath a car in the parking lot after a witness sent in a tip. 

 

 

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.