Rocky Mount police responded to a fight at city hall on Thursday morning after an argument escalated during a city council meeting.
Witnesses talked with WRAL News about the heated discussion leading up to the fight and the moments the committee room went under lockdown.
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Witnesses said it started from tensions during a discussion with developer and councilmember Charles Roberson. That discussion was taken out in the hallway under what was considered a closed session, when an interaction between Roberson and councilmember Andre Knight quickly became physical.
About 15 minutes later, city hall workers quickly locked down the meeting room where residents and other people were still inside.
A woman who spoke to WRAL said she was one of the five residents at this meeting just feet away from the fight.
“They told us to get down, shut the doors, lock up," said Crystal Anderson. "As a citizen, it was kind of really embarrassing to know, we are adults and this is happening right before our eyes.”
For Anderson, she said this incident only ramps up tension and distrust between residents and the council.
Roberson did not have any comment on the matter. WRAL reached out to Rocky Mount Mayor Sandy Roberson and all other councilmembers, but did not immediately receive a response.
Police said there was no immediate threat to the public or city staff and there were no injuries reported.
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation has joined the investigation.