Shoppers and employees at the Gardens Mall in Palm Beach Gardens were locked down for hours Wednesday afternoon after the sound of gunshots led to a massive law enforcement response.

Few details about what happened at the mall have been released as of Wednesday evening. Palm Beach Gardens Police confirmed earlier in the day they were investigating after reports that shots were fired and said later in the evening in a post on X that it was “not an active shooter event” and that it did not appear to be random.

Major Paul Rogers, a police department spokesperson, told the South Florida Sun Sentinel shortly after 3 p.m. that officers were responding to an “incident” at the mall at at 3101 PGA Blvd., but he could not provide details about what the incident was at the time.

Debbie Holden said she was shopping at Talbot’s on the first floor of the mall, located in between Macy’s and Nordstrom, and was about to pay at the check-out counter when she heard loud popping noises. Holden, two other customers and two store employees went to the dressing room area in the back of the store to hide after the manager locked the doors.

The incident at the The Gardens Mall this afternoon was not an active shooter event and does not appear to be a random shooting. The scene is secure and the investigation is ongoing. We appreciate the rapid law enforcement and fire response from our local public safety partners.

— Palm Beach Gardens Police (@PBGPD) February 14, 2024

She texted her family at 2:47 p.m. to say she heard what sounded like gunshots, that she and the other women were locked in Talbot’s and to “please pray,” she said. The women stayed in the dressing room area for about 15 minutes before police officers came in with guns drawn and escorted them out of the building through a back hallway.

As she was escorted through the hall, Holden said an officer banged on one of the doors and shouted that police were there and to open the door.

“I felt safe with the police there, but still, it’s kind of scary going down this long hallway, not knowing, is the shooter lurking somewhere in here?” she said.

Shortly after 3 p.m., Holden texted her family members photos from outside of the mall, near an entrance to Macy’s. Hundreds of police officers were at the mall, she said.

“I just sat there and thought, ‘My word, it’s like the whole state of Florida’s come out,'” she said. “I literally could not believe all that was there.”

She commended the Talbot’s employees, who she said stayed calm and constantly checked if the women were OK. Shortly before 4 p.m., Holden found her car and was on her way out. She said police officers were opening the doors and trunks to search every car that left.

“The one police officer that was standing guard in front of one of the Macy’s store on the outside, … after a bit, he said you can leave but your call will be searched because we’re looking for the suspect or the suspects,” Holden said.

The mall was “secured” about 5:30 p.m. as officers escorted out customers and employees, city spokesperson Candice Temple said in an emailed statement. The statement said officers were investigating “leads into potential suspect(s)” but did not provide further information about the incident.

The mall was closed for the rest of the day. It was unclear Wednesday night if the mall would reopen Thursday.

Temple said further information would not be released “at this time.”

Several Palm Beach County School District schools and Palm Beach State College were on variations of lockdowns as police investigated, though all were lifted by about 5:30 p.m.

Palm Tran routes that serve the mall had some delays.