Gastonia Walmart cleared of holiday shoppers after 'civil disturbance'

A reported “civil disturbance” cleared a busy Walmart on Myrtle School Road Sunday afternoon, creating a sense of panic although no injuries were reported.

Gastonia Police were called to the retail store at 3:20 p.m. over reports of a “civil disturbance.” There were unconfirmed reports of someone also possibly slashing tires in the parking lot.

Leah Hedgpath and her sister, Leslie Hedgpath, were in the back of the store in the baby clothes department when police came into the store and evacuated the building of shoppers and employees.

“They came through holding their rifles and everything, yelling at us to get to the front of the store,” Leah Hedgpath said.

Read more: http://www.gastongazette.com/news/20171217/walmart-cleared-of-holiday-shoppers-after-civil-disturbance