Short Pump Town Center closed early Saturday evening after a large fight involving teenagers drew a significant police response and caused panic among shoppers.
Henrico County Police say officers were called to the mall around 7:10 p.m. on March 14 after reports of a disturbance involving a large group of young people. According to initial reports from police and local media, dozens of teenagers had gathered at the mall when a fight broke out, prompting store closures and an early shutdown of the shopping center.
Authorities said no shots were fired and no injuries were reported during the incident. At least one teenager was taken into custody at the scene, though police have not yet released additional details about potential charges or whether more arrests could follow.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene as police arrived and mall security attempted to clear the area. Some shoppers reported sheltering inside stores while others were directed to leave the property as officers worked to disperse the crowd. Video circulating on social media appeared to show large groups of teenagers running through the outdoor shopping center while police vehicles and security personnel responded.
Investigators are also examining whether the gathering may have been organized in advance. According to reporting from WTVR CBS 6, detectives are reviewing a flyer circulating online advertising a “Short Pump Mall Takeover.” Police have not confirmed whether that flyer is directly connected to the incident, but officials said they are looking into whether social media played a role in drawing a large group of teens to the area.
The disturbance reportedly extended beyond the mall itself, with police also responding to activity near nearby retail areas along West Broad Street. Some reports indicated groups of teens moved toward surrounding shopping centers as officers attempted to clear the mall property.
Short Pump Town Center, one of the Richmond region’s largest retail destinations, typically sees heavy weekend foot traffic from families, teenagers, and visitors from across Henrico County and the surrounding suburbs. Incidents involving large youth gatherings at malls have become an increasing concern for shopping centers nationwide, particularly when meetups organized through social media draw larger crowds than expected.
Henrico Police said the situation was brought under control Saturday evening and the mall was cleared as a precaution. Officials have not announced whether the shopping center will implement additional security measures following the incident.
The investigation remains ongoing as police review witness statements, video footage, and online posts that may be connected to the gathering. Authorities are asking anyone with information or video related to the incident to contact Henrico County Police.
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