A Ramadan suhoor festival at The Mall at Tuttle Crossing turned chaotic just after midnight Sunday when a fight between a group of teenagers triggered a wave of panic and sent crowds bolting for the exits. Video shared online shows people sprinting through the food court while security and a sizable police presence rush in. Organizers cut the night short, canceling the rest of the event and escorting attendees out as officers worked to secure the mall.
Social media clips show the rush unfolding around 12:30 a.m. The influencer bmuse2k told WSYX/ABC6 that someone in the crowd yelled "gun," which witnesses said set off the stampede. Vendor Omar Masri also posted about the chaos as he searched for family members in the crush of people. According to WSYX/ABC6, Columbus police said 911 callers reported hearing gunfire, but officers determined there was no shooting and no one was hurt.
Organizers And Police Response
The Ohio Suhoor Festival account later posted a statement on Instagram saying an altercation near the restrooms "led to additional disturbances and escalation" as the crowd spilled into the main food court. The post noted that officers on scene, along with multiple vendors, reported they did not see or hear any firearms. Organizers said no attendees, vendors, staff members, or officers were injured.
According to WSYX/ABC6, organizers added that police shut the event down as a precautionary measure. They also said a separate women- and family-focused event is scheduled for March 14.
What Suhoor Fests Are And Why They Draw Crowds
Suhoor gatherings are late-night Ramadan events where families and vendors come together for a pre-dawn meal, often turning malls and halls into bustling food courts long after most stores close. Across Ohio this year, these festivals have been pulling in bigger crowds.
The Columbus Dispatch has highlighted several suhoor festivals around the state, including Marib Suhoor Fest at Tuttle Crossing. The national Suhoor Festival site lays out the kind of late-night programming and vendor-heavy lineups that help explain why these events can pack venues well past midnight.
Local Context And Safety
The Mall at Tuttle Crossing, listed at 5043 Tuttle Crossing Blvd, has a Dublin mailing address but actually sits inside Columbus city limits. That jurisdictional quirk helps make it a go-to spot for large, late-night regional events.
That combination of big crowds and overnight hours has also meant extra caution from both event organizers and police, especially after prior security incidents at the property. For readers looking for background on the mall and scheduled suhoor programming, public listings and local reporting lay out upcoming event details and updates. Basic information about the venue itself can be found on Wikipedia.
