Shopping center in new Jersey was evacuated after food-court fight broke out, which escalated into a shooting. It has affected 2 people.
The incident occurred yesterday, January 11, at 6 p.m. at the Newport Center Mall in Jersey city. After shots rang out, panicked customers began to panic to flee in search of safe places. Most of them were hiding inside the shops until the police arrive.
One of the victims received a gunshot wound to the abdomen and the other hand, said at a press conference, the mayor of Jersey city Steve Fulop. According to the police Department, the victims are in critical but stable condition at Jersey City Medical Center.
It is believed that both men may be gang members, so they, most likely, was the shooter. According to police, one of them at the time of the incident, was wanted in connection with the shooting, which occurred the day before – Wednesday, January 9, on Grant Avenue.
SHOTS FIRED AT NEWPORT MALL! Everyone please steer clear of the mall! We have not got word on if the shooter is still inside or not! pic.twitter.com/XGEJQxXNr8
— eα$† cσα$† (@ayoxadrianna) January 12, 2019
«We know some of the players… we know some of the victims… and we certainly believe that they did not have good intentions,» said the chief of police of Jersey city Mike Kelly.
Soon after the incident, police arrested two people, but we don’t know if that includes the shooter. Investigators do not exclude that the perpetrator of the incident may be among the wounded.
As told PIX11 one of the witnesses of the incident, Melinda Calaff, female and 30 other buyers spent two hours in Victoria Secret store, not knowing what had happened.
I DARE SOMEONE TO TELL ME ITS TOO SOON TO TALK ABOUT IT. SCREAMING AND CRYING PEOPLE. INJURY AND DEATH. HYSTERIA AND GRIEF. THIS IS WHAT GUN VIOLENCE BRINGS. pic.twitter.com/gA2pbGD5ay
— Jai (@lifeofjai) January 12, 2019
«I think we are faced with the reality when they closed the gate and pushed us all into the office – remember Calaff. – People cried… it was horrible.»
One of the employees of the shopping center Daniel Pascal told NBC New York that he was coming down from the second floor at Macy’s when I saw the panic in the crowd.
«I saw a huge stream of people running in the opposite direction, to the back entrance, – said Pascal. – I was with my colleague and we ran with them.»
According to Pascal, they at first did not understand why and where to run, until someone shouted, «There’s shooting!»
#Shooting in #NewJersey #mall #JerseyCity #live pic.twitter.com/pRFGHeoTSN
— A (@fiberantics) January 11, 2019
Police sources said that there were three shots at least two guns.
The representative of the Newport centre Mall has released an official statement: «We appreciate the prompt response of our security personnel and the police Department of Jersey city on this incident.»
Law enforcement authorities are still scouring the Mall and browsing record from surveillance cameras to identify all participants in the incident.
