06:40 AM EST on Friday, February 3, 2006

By TONY BURBECK / 6NEWS
E-mail Tony: TBurbeck@WCNC.com

6NEWS

Two people, who were in the van pictured, were shot by police. One died on the scene.

HUNTERSVILLE -- One person has been shot and killed and another is in critical condition after a shootout at the Rosedale Commons Shopping Center in Huntersville.

The shooting happened just after 2 p.m. Thursday on Gilead Road.

In a statement released by the North Carolina Highway Patrol, officers said the driver of a van was driving recklessly along Interstate 77.

A truck driver took notice of the erratic van and followed it. The driver of the van pulled over at one point and the truck driver pulled up along side the van to see if the driver was OK.

The truck driver then noticed the driver of the van had a rifle and called police.

The van took off again traveling north on I-77 when it was spotted by a state trooper.

The trooper and members of the Huntersville Police Department followed the van to the Rosedale Commons Shopping Center.

Witnesses at the shopping center said the van came to a stop, and police got out of their vehicles, and started telling the two suspects in the van to get out of their vehicle.

Dozens of people were just yards away, as police moved in.

Witnesses said many shoppers jumped to store windows and hurried to the front of stores to watch the scene unfold.

"We were telling these individuals to get out on the ground," said Captain Michael Kee of the Huntsville Police.

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5-Photos from the scene

The male driver got out of the van first, while his female passenger stayed inside the van.

"We saw the standoff. A couple of cops with guns drawn and some guy mouthing off," said one witness.

Other witnesses said the man was asked several times to "get down" by police, but refused.

Investigators said the woman jumped out of the van with a rifle, and shot first. The man grabbed a 9 millimeter, and fired at the officers.

Officers then fired shots that struck and killed the man. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The female passenger was initially treated at Presbyterian Hospital-Huntersville, but she has since been moved. At last check where she is listed in critical condition.

The hectic and dangerous scene attracted numerous eyewitnesses like Chad Carpenter.

"Cops drew their weapons and opened fire," Carpenter said.

Fifty shell casings peppered the parking lot but no bystanders were shot.

One stray bullet hit a Blockbuster video store and smashed a window and an employee inside was hit by shattered glass.

The shootout happened by a Batteries Plus store and an employee ran out the back door when he saw the suspects grab their guns.

Police said a customer in a coffee shop was a few feet away from flying bullets but wasn't hit.

Witnesses reported the suspects appeared drunk or on drugs. Police said a call on the van initially came in as a potentially drunk driver. Toxicology tests are part of the state's investigation.

Video from the scene showed a rifle lying on the ground next to the suspect's vehicle. Police said they found more weapons inside the van.

The shopping center is located off of Interstate 77 at exit 23.

The State Bureau of Investigation will investigate the shooting which is standard procedure in an officer involved shooting.

The officers involved will be placed on administrative leave, according to the highway patrol.

The suspect's names have not been released at this time.

6NEWS reporter Nicole Konkal provided information used in this report.