19-year-old shot dead in fight at Mall of America
A 19-year-old man was fatally shot during a fight in Minnesota’s Mall of America on Friday night, police said.
The teenager was shot “several times” as two groups of people fought on the first floor of Nordstrom just before 8 p.m., Bloomington Police Chief Booker Hodges told a news conference.
Between five and nine people were involved in the melee and one of the men drew a gun and opened fire. The entire altercation lasted about 30 seconds, Hodges said. The two groups involved then fled through a nearby doorway, Hodges said.
Police have not yet identified the victim.
One of the customers inside the store during filming was North Minneapolis Gospel singer Jovon Patton.
The entertainer began filming an Instagram reel inside one of the stores seconds before the shots rang out. At least one gunshot can be heard in the video before Patton, his wife and other customers rushed into the store’s back room for safety.
“They were physically fighting and then someone pulled out a gun and decided to kill someone in the store,” an exacerbated Hodges said.
An innocent bystander was grazed by one of the bullets, Hodges said, but his jacket took all the rubbing.
Hodges did not say whether any weapons were recovered.
One of the 16 police officers stationed at the mall Friday night is the one who called the shots.
The mall was in confinement for more than an hour as Bloomington police secured the scene before allowing guests to leave.
The police chief urged those involved or those with information to come forward.
Police are reviewing security footage to identify the suspect who opened fire over the busy holiday weekend.
The police are confident that they will be able to find out who the suspect who opened the fire is.
Publicity
“It’s absolutely ridiculous. I mean, I can’t even think of another word. It’s just plain stupid,” a visibly upset Hodges said.
Officers are reviewing security footage and are in the process of identifying suspects, he said.
“I am convinced that we will catch these people. And we’re going to lock them up,” Hodges said.