GASTONIA, N.C. — A teenager has been arrested in a midday shooting in the parking lot of a Gastonia mall that injured three, police said Friday night.

The shooting happened at about 12:10 p.m. at the Eastridge Mall, the Gastonia Police Department stated in a news release. 

When first responders arrived, they found a man with a gunshot wound outside near the mall's food court. Inside the food court, officers found a woman and a man, also with gunshot wounds. Police said they fled into the food court after they were shot outside. 

All three were transported to the hospital with injuries that were not thought to be life-threatening.

Police searching a nearby wooded area found a 17-year-old boy and a handgun nearby. The teen was taken into custody and later was charged in connection with the shooting. Police did not release the teen's name because of his age.

Earlier reports described a fourth victim who transported himself to a Charlotte hospital. Gastonia police Friday night said the man was shot in a separate incident and were working to determine whether there was any connection to the shooting at the Eastridge Mall.