By Isiah Christie

On Sunday, June 8th, two separate fights broke out at Jersey Gardens Mall that influenced a building-wide lockdown and hospitalization of a citizen. Elizabeth Police were notified of loud banging noises within the mall that were believed to be gunshots by citizens. Upon arrival, it was discovered that no firearms misuse occurred, but rather that the noise was occasioned by the urgent gate closing of storefronts by employees, rattled by the sudden fights between shoppers, patrons and store clerks.

One altercation was reported at the Primark store, a discount fashion chain that sells affordable apparel and accessories. It is unknown if the altercation in particular involved store employees or mall patrons, but it was confirmed that a head injury occurred to an older woman and she was transported to local medical care to be urgently treated. She is not believed to be directly involved in the fights, although specifics of the injury’s origin are unconfirmed. It is, however, confirmed that a juvenile was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct.

A separate incident was believed to have been between shoppers, creating further chaos in The Mills as customers sprinted out of the building in fear. Many believed the source of the disarray was an active shooter occurrence, and videos were posted to social media depicting people running in fear and leaving their food court meals behind. Witnesses stormed online to issue warnings, with one Facebook user stating “Check on your love[d] ones[,] [they’re] shooting at Jersey Gardens Mall!!! My Daughter is safe[,] Thank God”. The news also quickly broke out to NJ Transit, who issued emergency changes to service in the area to consider police activity and ensure the safety of passengers.

There was also significant displeasure with the reporting of the news. One live witness, who was watching a movie in the connected AMC theater, stated that “there was no announcement” on the matter, and “we were all gushing over the movie while commotion was going on”. He noted that people were running outside as he left the theater, but there was absolutely no indication of why. Why Jersey Gardens neglected to issue a public service announcement is unknown, but avoiding further chaos or extreme headlines is a likely cause.

These incidents mirror several that have plagued the state’s malls in recent months, following similar documented fights and juvenile pop-ups at Middlesex County’s Woodbridge Carnival, Menlo Park Mall, and Somerset County’s Bridgewater Commons. New Jersey malls have requested increased police presence and temporary bans on customers under 18 to avoid these altercations.

No further injuries at The Mills were reported, and the mall has since resumed normal storefront activity.