Pizza worker disarmed gunman after shots fired in Cross Creek Mall, police say

Police say that an argument with a food court worker at Cross Creek Mall on Wednesday resulted in the customer returning with a gun and firing a shot before being disarmed by an employee.

Michael William Floyd, 51, is charged with discharging a firearm in an enclosed space to incite fear, possession of a firearm by a felon, second-degree kidnapping, assault by strangulation and assault with a deadly weapon.

According to the Fayetteville Police Department, before the shooting, Floyd, of Hope Mills, allegedly got into an argument with a worker at Primo Pizza about 12:30 p.m.

“After the altercation, Floyd exited the mall and then returned to the food establishment with a handgun,” a news release said.

Related: Combat veteran stops suspected shooter leaving Fayetteville's Cross Creek Mall

It’s alleged that Floyd then entered a designated employee area and got into a physical fight with a worker.

“During the altercation, a gunshot was fired, and the employee was able to disarm Floyd,” the release said.

In the parking lot, a passerby who said he saw a man, later identified as Floyd, putting a gun into his waistband as he walked into the food court, said he spotted that same man outside after people ran from the mall because of the shooting.

Suspecting the individual was responsible, Robert Williams, 41, of Fayetteville, said he followed Floyd to an unpopulated area of the parking lot before the combat veteran ordered the suspected assailant to the ground at gunpoint.

Williams said he held him there until police arrived. No one was injured in the shooting.

Floyd is being held in the Cumberland County jail without bail.

F.T. Norton can be reached at fnorton@fayobserver.com.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Pizza worker disarmed gunman after shots fired in Cross Creek Mall, police say