Malls across the United States descended into violence and chaos over the past several days surrounding the Christmas holiday.
Multiple incidents broke out across over a dozen malls across the country on Monday alone as shoppers fought in states such as New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Tennessee, Ohio, Colorado, Connecticut and others.
Several of the incidents were caught on video and put onto social media.
At The Mills in Jersey Gardens, New Jersey, 48,000 people were caught fleeing the area after a fight broke out and a loud “bang” was heard. A person then shouted “shots fired” causing everyone to flee in panic. Police later said that the loud noise was a chair being thrown. Armed police in body armor arrived at the scene to sweep the area. Eight people were injured due to the fight and subsequent stampede.
Seven people were hospitalized after a fight broke out in the food court of Roosevelt Field Mall in Long Island, New York. Shoppers mistakenly thought shots were fired and panicked, causing them to take cover.
In Aurora, Illinois at the Fox Valley Mall, multiple fights broke out between shoppers in the food court. Security guards attempted to break up the fighting as bottles were being thrown. Security guards were forced to evacuate shoppers. Roughly 75 police officers arrived at the scene to break up the fighting and help with the evacuation. Seven juveniles were arrested.
Here's a snap a buddy of mine sent me from the brawl at the fox valley mall. You should all be ashamed of yourselves. pic.twitter.com/zF8cnRG9Rx
— abelay (@abelaysays) December 27, 2016
Multiple fights broke out at the Town Center at Aurora, Colorado after a social media post was found online saying that there was going to be a fight there. Hundreds of people arrived at the food court before the fights broke out, prompting the mall to close early on Monday.
Security guards attempted to break up the fight but then people began circling the officers and requiring them to call for back-up. When the back-up arrived even more fighting ensued, leaving five juveniles arrested.
In Memphis, Tennessee, there were incidents at two separate malls, leading to seven arrests. Police said a group started a disturbance in the Wolfchase Galleria food court and started running. A crowd also gathered at a mall roughly 10 miles and started a disturbance. There were reports of shots fired in both incidents.
In Beachwood, Ohio, one juvenile was arrested for striking a police officer after police used pepper spray to break up a fight near a food court. Crowds stampeded towards the exits at the Beechwood Place mall, which went into lockdown as police investigated.
In Fort Worth, Texas, Hulen Mall was locked down after 100-150 students reportedly gathered and began fighting, requiring 60 officers to break up the fights. Initially it was reported that shots were fired, causing officers to arrive on scene. The youths were taken outside and picked up by their parents.
hulen mall wild for this one lmao pic.twitter.com/4rD4ZO5h1H
— cyn 💘 (@CynNinja) December 27, 2016
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