Law enforcement called to Garden State Plaza to investigate incident; police say there was no shooting - NJ.com
Law enforcement responded to the Garden State Plaza Mall late Saturday afternoon following reports of a physical altercation that sent the popular retail center into hysteria, according to Paramus police.
Paramus Police Sgt. Robert Gleason said there was a fight in the food court and some chairs were kicked over. Some people apparently mistook the clamor for gunfire and chaos ensued, he said.
“There was no shooting. There was no stabbing,” Gleason said.
The people involved in the fight are believed to have left the mall, he added.
The Paramus Police posted an alert on its website that said “Paramus units responded to a physical altercation at the Garden State Plaza. There was no shooting. The subjects have now left the area, and Paramus Police and Detectives are investigating. There is no hazard.”
The incident was first reported at 4:27 p.m.
Carley Campbell, 21, a college student at Montclair State University, said she was in a retail store in the mall when she noticed widespread panic and mall workers running around using walkie-talkies and directing shoppers to the back of the store.
Campbell said she and her boyfriend were directed into a dressing room in the back of the store and told to duck.
“For about 15 or so minutes it was sheer panic,” Campbell said. “There was one point where I heard slamming and I thought this was going to be it.”
Several other shoppers sent out social media posts Saturday afternoon about the ongoing incident at the mall, saying the popular retail center had been evacuated by police.
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Richard Cowen may be reached at [email protected].
Matthew Stanmyre may be reached at [email protected].
source: https://www.nj.com/bergen/2022/04/police-called-to-garden-state-plaza-to-investigate-ongoing-incident.html
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