Deputies: Fight at I-Drive area outlets prompts false shooting rumor

ORLANDO, Fla. - The Orange County Sheriff's Office said Sunday that reports of a shooting at the Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets were false but that a fight did occur.

In a news release, the Sheriff's Office said an Orange County deputy was working "in an off-duty capacity" at the outlets when he was told there a possible shooting near the food court. The reports of shots fired sparked a chaotic scene at the outlets. 

Shopper Stephanie Hasselman was sitting by the food court when people started running. She said that "a flood of people started coming toward us and screaming and tripping over each other."

Many people ran into stores before employees started locking doors and rushing customers toward the back of the stores.

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"They had everyone go into the back of the store and hunker down under the shoe racks," Hasselman said.

Another shopper Amanda, her husband, and her daughter were in the Disney store at the time.

"People just ran in and said there was shooting. We just dropped everything and ran through the back doors and kept running until we found an open door," Amanda said. "We just found a cubbie and sat there and prayed."

Additional deputies arrived and searched the outlets but found no gunshot victims.

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During the search, investigators said that they found two battery victims. They said there was a fight between the victims and the unknown suspect or suspects.

Deputies said the victims suffered minor injuries and one was taken to the hospital for minor treatment. Officials added that no gunshots were ever fired.

Tune in to FOX 35 Orlando for the latest Central Florida news.