Stunned shoppers escaping the heat by visiting a cool Sherway Gardens were evacuated and the mall placed in a rare lockdown after gunshots were fired inside near stores.

Patrons and staff were evacuated from the sprawling mall around 2:30 p.m. Friday  after an alleged gunfight between two groups near an exit door of the mall.

Authorities evacuated the facility and placed it on lockdown. There are no confirmed reports of casualties associated with the incident.

“Disruptions to transport and business are likely in the vicinity of the mall over the coming hours,” police said. “This is a developing situation; additional information will be issued as warranted.”

Shoppers and motorists were told to avoid the area until police give the all-clear.

They were warned to ‘prepare for localized transport and business disruptions near the incident site and consider taking alternative routes to circumvent the scene.’

Toronto police and paramedics say they were called to the mall for a reported shooting.

Police say two groups of people – one group of four and another group of six –  were shooting at one another and fled the scene.

Witnesses said they heard a loud bang and were told to evacuate the mall immediately.

Video from the scene showed people running into the parking lot as police and fire crews arrived.

One woman said she was in a clothing store in the mall before 3 p.m. when she heard a “loud bang.”

Security staff ordered everyone out of the mall and many were left waiting in the parking lot.

Social media sites were flooded with shopping victims and families who were ordered to leave Sherway.

“Just got evacuated with my daughter! What an overwhelming thing to experience!” one woman wrote on Facebook.

“Please keep us posted,” wrote another in need of help. “We’re at the back of a store in lockdown.”

“Hoping everyone makes it out safely,” another person said.

Officials said there more shoppers in the mall than normal to escape the evening’s heat.