A quiet Sunday of mall walking and sale hunting in Maplewood turned into a stampede when gunfire rang out inside Maplewood Mall, sending crowds running and forcing an hours-long shutdown while police swept the sprawling east metro shopping center.
One person was wounded and taken to the hospital, and the mall stayed closed for the rest of the day as officers locked down entrances and methodically cleared the building.
What investigators say
Officers were called to the mall just after 2 p.m., where they found one wounded person who was taken to Regions Hospital with injuries described as non-life-threatening, according to WCCO. Investigators say the gunfire followed a physical altercation in the mall’s lower concourse near door number five. Two juveniles were taken into custody and booked on suspicion of third-degree riot, KSTP reported.
Witnesses describe chaos near JCPenney entrance
People inside the mall say the scene shifted from routine to chaos in seconds. Shop owners and employees described a sudden wave of panic as groups of youths clashed and crowds bolted from the lower level near the JCPenney entrance where the fight broke out, according to the Star Tribune.
One shop owner told the paper he was “terrified, of course” as he hurried roughly 30 people into his store, pulled them behind the gate, and locked it while officers moved in.
Early details shift as police sort out what happened
Mall management publicly labeled the gunfire an “isolated incident” and said it was handled quickly. On the ground, though, early reports differed on exactly who was being detained and whether the suspected shooter had been caught, according to FOX 9. The station reported that two people were taken into custody as police continued to piece together the sequence of events.
Mall stays dark for the day
In a public post, Maplewood Mall said the incident involved “two individuals under the age of 22” and confirmed the shopping center would stay closed for the rest of Sunday with plans to reopen Monday, according to the Star Tribune. The mall’s website lists its address as 3001 White Bear Avenue N, the same location authorities used while directing their response. Management said the situation was addressed immediately.
How to help investigators
Police are now asking anyone who was inside the mall and captured video or other evidence to come forward so investigators can review it. Contact details, including a request to reach Lt. Michael Hoemke at 651-249-2605 and an email for submitting evidence, were published by KSTP.
Where things stand now
Authorities stressed there was no ongoing threat to the public as officers continued to clear stores and comb through surveillance footage, according to WCCO. Investigators have not announced formal charges tied directly to the shooting. The two juveniles who were arrested remain booked on suspicion of third-degree riot as the inquiry continues, local reporting shows.
