MORE MALL VIOLENCE: 1000+ “urban youth” shut down mall in Louisville, KY

Shopping malls in America have been a place for young and old alike to go shopping for at least two, maybe three generations. However, increasingly they have become a rally point for hoodlums and hooligans looking to cause trouble while loitering.

When Joe and Jane Sixpack start to feel their local mall isn’t a safe place for their kids to hang out, that’s going to put quite a squeeze on already struggling malls.

For a long time, malls have tried the “security theater” of minimum-wage security guards in spiffy uniforms and fancy hats to make the uninformed feel safer. In reality, they nearly all prohibit carry – even by off-duty police officers – on their premises.

This leaves a prime hunting ground for violent youngsters who don’t give a damn about mall policy or breaking the law in destroying property or victimizing others.

People are starting to talk about it though, especially when over 1000 unruly teenagers rampaged through a high-end mall in Louisville in recent days.

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) – The Mall St. Matthews has been closed for the night after several disturbances. Those incidents may have involved as many as 1,000 to 2,000 teens, according to the St. Matthews Police Department.

There has been no confirmation of shots fired inside the mall, although some were reported, and no injuries or arrests have been reported.

The only thing unusual about this recent incident on Louisville is the size of the problem. Violence in malls across America is common… it’s just not national news often. I ran out of time pulling up stories from violence at malls in America. Here are five stories from a three week period in late December 2014- early January 2015. I didn’t have time to do stories from the rest of the 2015 year.

Carry your gun at the mall if you’re able to do so legally.

Mall-goers terrified after fights break out at Independence Center Mall

Posted: Dec 26, 2014 9:52 PM CST Updated: Jan 25, 2015 9:52 PM CST

INDEPENDENCE, MO (KCTV) –Multiple police agencies safely dispersed a crowd after a large disturbance involving hundreds of teens at Independence Center Mall on Friday night.

Mall shut down after massive brawl

Added on 12:31 PM ET, Sun December 28, 2014

(CNN) – A huge fight broke out at a mall in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, forcing it to shut down. CNN affiliate KDKA reports.

Large fight breaks out at Wolfchase Galleria

Posted 7:51 pm, December 26, 2014

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WREG) — A large fight broke out inside Wolfchase Galleria Shopping Mall Friday night. Witnesses said as many as 250 teenagers were seen arguing and then punching one another.

People inside the mall called police reporting gunshots, but apparently that sound was simply teenagers fists hitting plastic and metal store sale signs. The sound reportedly echoed through the mall.

Deadly shooting at Florida mall

Last Updated Jan 17, 2015 4:46 PM EST

MELBOURNE, Fla. (CBS) — A shooting Saturday morning at a mall in central Florida left two people dead and one other injured, police said.

Shots reported outside AMC at Castleton Square Mall; no injuries or arrests

Posted: Jan 03, 2015 7:22 PM CST Updated: Jan 04, 2015 7:05 PM CST

INDIANAPOLIS (WHTR) – Castleton Square Mall closed early Saturday after a fight broke out inside, reportedly involving hundreds of people.

Hundreds of teens had gathered outside the mall after a handful of fights broke out inside earlier, prompting an evacuation.