Police investigate shots fired outside Westfield Montgomery Mall during argument

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Montgomery County police are investigating shots fired outside of Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda.

Police say officers responded to the mall after receiving a call at around 7:08 p.m. Friday about the sound of gunfire in the parking lot area nearby the food court and movie theater.

Witnesses told police that two groups of two males each were involved in an argument that apparently started off of mall property. The verbal dispute continued in the mall parking lot when shots were fired. The suspects fled from the area afterwards.

Investigators found shell casings in the area, but they did not locate any victim struck by the gunfire. Several parked vehicles were struck by bullets, including a Nissan Xterra parked in the parking lot.

"[The XTerra owner was] a little upset," said Montgomery County Police Capt. David Falcinelli. "Not even the damage to the car, but just the fact that it was a gunshot ...This was a crowded Friday night at the mall, so obviously this was a cause for concern."

Police say they do not have a good enough of a description from witnesses to put out a lookout for the suspects at this time.

Officials say they do not believe there is any threat to the public. The mall remained open as police investigated.