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'I had an employee shoot someone': 911 call released in Carolina Place Mall shooting

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The 911 call has been released after a man was shot to death Sunday following a dispute inside a store at the Carolina Place Mall, according to Pineville police.

Investigators identified the victim as 24-year-old Khali Amir Holmes.

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Police said they believe the dispute was between an employee of DTLR and Holmes, who came into the store and started a physical confrontation just after noon Sunday.

[LINK: Carolina Place Mall Code of Conduct]

Paramedics said Holmes was pronounced dead at the scene.

Channel 9 learned the shooter was an employee at DTLR. Holmes was not an employee of the store.

We first updated WSOCTV news app users with a notification just after 1 p.m. Sunday that there was a fatal shooting inside the mall.

Download the WSOCTV news app for your smartphone and get updates on this developing story as they come in.

Police said the employee, who fired a semi-automatic handgun, turned himself in. His name has not been released.

The 911 call reveals what happened following the shooting.

"Yes. I had a person shot in my store at DTLR at Carolina Place Mall. I need somebody here quickly, as fast as possible." The caller continued, "Yes. I had an employee shoot someone inside the store. Somebody came in the store and started fighting and they got shot."

"This doesn't appear to be a random act,” said Corey Copley, with the Pineville Police Department. “Right now, it's still early in the investigation, but there may have been some ongoing dispute between the individuals, and unfortunately, someone lost their life here today because of that."

[ALSO READ: Man found shot in mall lot after possible road rage nearby]

Officers said criminal charges have not been filed at this time as they continue to interview the employee, witnesses and other DTLR employees.

When asked how the employee got a gun inside the store in the first place, officers said they are "still determining how the gun was introduced."

Shoppers told Channel 9's Tina Terry they are concerned about guns in the mall.

"I think it's a little shocking. It's not cool, I know that much. I don't think they need to have guns in the mall," said shopper Tiffany Trent.

According to the mall's code of conduct, firearms or illegal weapons are prohibited.

"On a Sunday afternoon, just everyone out with their family doing some shopping, you just don't expect things like this to go on,” said shopper John O’Sullivan.

The upper level of the west side of the mall was shut down for several hours during the police investigation. The mall, as well as the store, was open as normal Monday.

"Their mall security staff did an excellent job in assisting Pineville police, and Carolina Place Mall remains a safe place for everyone," Copley said. "This is a very unfortunate event between two people who had an ongoing dispute that escalated to the highest degree today."

Police told Terry they were re-interviewing the suspect and witnesses Monday. They were also reviewing video.

The district attorney is working with investigators to determine whether charges should be filed.

This is an ongoing investigation. Check back with wsoctv.com for more information. 

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