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10 Busted in Mall of America Brouhaha

10 teens arrested as melee breaks out

By Polly Davis Doig,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 27, 2011 9:57 AM CST

(Newser) – Retailers were hoping for a big day yesterday, but Minnesota's Mall of America might have preferred something smaller than a mob of hundreds of kids who wreaked havoc. At least 200 teens were involved in an hour-long melee that had shoppers scrambling and stores closing, some for the remainder of the evening, reports the Star-Tribune. Smaller fights broke out in the hours that followed, and Bloomington police arrested at least 10 teens.

The chaos began about 4:20pm, when a fight broke out among a large group in a food court. The unrest quickly spread through the mall, prompting mall security at one point to briefly call for a lockdown. "It looked like they were trying to pull people's stuff out of their bags," said one teen. Said a mom: One teen boy "was beaten to the ground. Lots of punches were thrown. We were held in the stock room for about 10 minutes."

In this Oct. 27, 2010 photo, the Mall of America is shown in Bloomington, Minn.
In this Oct. 27, 2010 photo, the Mall of America is shown in Bloomington, Minn.   (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
In this Nov. 28, 2009 file photo, shoppers check out Black Friday early bird specials at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn.
In this Nov. 28, 2009 file photo, shoppers check out Black Friday early bird specials at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn.   (AP Photo/Jim Mone, file)
In this file photo from March 15, 2008, visitors fill the park of the Nickelodeon Universe, the new amusement park at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn.
In this file photo from March 15, 2008, visitors fill the park of the Nickelodeon Universe, the new amusement park at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn.   (AP Photo/Dawn Villella, File)
Shoppers leave a GAP store Thursday, Sept. 6, 2007, at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn.
Shoppers leave a GAP store Thursday, Sept. 6, 2007, at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn.   (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 11 comments
carson
Dec 27, 2011 8:13 PM CST
im heading to electronics...cover me
Pavmark427
Dec 27, 2011 8:12 PM CST
This story is incorrect, the fighting started after rumors that air-jordans could be purchased at sears with food-stamps got out.
Xavier_Thyme
Dec 27, 2011 12:23 PM CST
Sounds more like activity at a British mall than an American one...

 
holiday shopping • strange stuff • Mall of America

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