‘Chaos’: Shoppers run for cover as gun fired at Pacific Epping shopping centre

Police have swarmed Pacific Epping shopping centre in Melbourne’s north after terrified patrons fled gunfire on Friday night.

Police at Pacific Epping after a shot was fired during a brawl. Picture: 7/Sunrise

Terrified patrons have fled gunfire at a shopping centre in Melbourne’s north.

Police descended on Pacific Epping at High St in Epping about 8pm on Friday night after a violent brawl broke out, sending shoppers “screaming and running” for cover.

Officers allege a group of men used machetes in the confrontation, and a gun was fired.

Police understand the two groups are known to each other.

Two men from Lalor, aged 22 and 16, took themselves to hospital with injuries inflicted by a machete.

The 22-year-old was on Saturday evening in a serious condition under police guard.

The 16-year-old, who suffered non-life-threatening injuries, is assisting police.

A store manager, who did not want to be identified, said patrons ran into his business for shelter.

“People were screaming and shouting and then I saw everyone running,” he said.

‘There was chaos and people came in to shelter themselves.”

Pacific Epping shopping centre at High St in Epping. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui

Police at the scene after a brawl broke out and a gun was fired. Picture: 7/Sunrise

Police outside Pacific Epping after terrified shoppers fled the scene. Picture: Channel 7/Sunrise

One shopper said she and her young family had tried to hide inside a shop, but it was locked down.

“I was there with my husband and three young children,” she said in a social media post.

“People were calling police, young kids were crying – mine included.

“(We) just wanted a family dinner.”

She said the incident took place outside the Groove Train restaurant, and police were “everywhere”.

One witness, who was leaving the La Famiglia restaurant after dinner, said he heard three gunshots before seeing up to 10 youths fleeing the area.

“We heard like a gunshot… then we heard people yelling and then some people running towards the car park,” witness Adam Haldane told the Sunday Herald Sun.

“We saw a group of about 10 youths heading towards the outside food court beforehand and after the shots were fired we saw one of them with blood all over him.

“(They were) in a rush to get out of there.”

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said the group of men had fled before police arrived and the investigation was ongoing.

“The area was searched and evidence located that a firearm had been used,” she said.

She said two men presented themselves to hospital soon after with non-life threatening injuries, “thought to be caused by an edged weapon”.