Chicago Ridge Mall Shooting - Shoppers at the Chicago Ridge Mall were evacuated and the mall was shut down several hours before its normal closing time after a fight erupted between a group of teenagers in the shopping complex on Saturday evening.
Police say at about 6:00 p.m., a distress call came through about teenagers fighting in the food court of the mall, according to WGN. While officers were on their way to respond to the incident, they received information that shots had been fired in the mall.
"Upon arrival several groups previously within the food court area had begin to go into the mall area. Numerous stores closed their gates, and in joint cooperation, Chicago Ridge Police and Chicago Ridge mall security determined that the mall should close to prevent any further entry into the mall by individuals in the original incident," a police statement said.
Reports indicate that the mall was closed at about 7:00 p.m. According to NBC, police told one worker in the mall that they were searching for a man with a gun. Workers reportedly had to be locked inside their stores while the police brought the place under control.
No injuries were reported from the incident. It is unclear if there was indeed any gun shots fired. The police have opened an investigation into the incident. At the moment, no one has been arrested in connection with the Chicago Ridge Mall shooting.
Eyewitnesses have described the chaotic scene in the mall to the press. One witness, identified as Mohammed Abed told ABC that everyone was running and "ducking." "I tried to go into Victoria's Secret. The people who work there closed the gates so no one could get in. so we were ducking. Everyone was yelling. It was a mess."
The fight at the Chicago Ridge Mall mirrors another incident a Pennsylvania mall that left at least two teenagers with injuries. It is unclear what led to both incidents.
