A shot was fired at the Willowbrook Mall in Wayne, N.J., on Dec. 29, after a fight broke out. According to the Wayne police, three people were taken into custody, and no one was injured.
The three suspects, two adults and one juvenile, got into an apparent altercation in the mall’s food court at 7 p.m., one hour before closing. Surveillance video showed chaos and police running through the mall in hopes of finding the suspects who attempted to flee the scene. Senior Olivia Martin was in the mall just a few stores away from the food court and describes the incident as shocking and frightening.
“It was really scary to witness this event at such a local place because I never thought something like this would happen so close to home,” Martin said. “I heard a mob of people running and yelling, and that’s when I knew something serious was going on.”
Police remained to examine the scene through the night and advised people to avoid the area for the rest of the day. However, the mall was open regular hours the next day for a packed New Year’s Eve, with shoppers feeling at ease due to increased police presence. Senior Elyana Ghattas was among many who entered the mall just one day after the incident.
“It felt normal and safer than usual,” Ghattas said. “There was a lot more security circling the lot and cops inside.”
