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Suspect in ski mask fired shots outside Gastonia home, police say

GASTONIA, N.C. — Police are investigating after people ran for cover as a masked man fired shots at a crowd of people in the middle of a Gastonia neighborhood Friday afternoon.

Officers said a person in a ski mask walked up to a home along North King Street and started firing at a group of people.

The police department is about a five-minute drive from the scene and officers said they could hear shots as they were getting into their cars.

Channel 9 crews could see crime scene tape roping off the area and investigators looking for evidence around a home.

Authorities said they found several shell casings from two different guns at the scene.

Officers said no one was hit by the gunfire, but shots hit cars and homes.

They said they're still searching for the suspect.

Mance Hope said when he left his home, he noticed about eight people near his driveway, but a short time later a masked man opened fire and his house was hit along with his neighbor.

Several people in the neighborhood were home at the time and a few were walking nearby, some had children with them.

Neighbors said they are worried that the targets of the shooting were all young, and while police can't say if they fired back, neighbors are worried.

"They are not adults," resident James Hope said. "They are kids at that, with guns."

No other details have been released.

Check back for updates on this developing story.