Police officers continue to patrol the area as people linger in the parking lots around Oak Court Mall after the mall was closed due to a disturbance Monday, Dec. 26, 2016, in Memphis, Tenn. Authorities and witnesses say there have been disturbances at two malls in Memphis and one of them had to be shut down. (Jim Weber/The Commercial Appeal via AP) BEACHWOOD, Ohio (AP) – From fireworks inside a Chattanooga mall to fist fights at two malls in Memphis, skirmishes at shopping malls across the U.S. created an unruly atmosphere on the day after Christmas.
Fights broke out at malls around the country Monday night sending shoppers, who were looking for post-holiday deals, scrambling for the exits.
Several people reportedly were injured yesterday afternoon when fireworks exploded in Hamilton Place mall, resulting in a panic, police said.
“Our investigation concluded that it was perpetrated a group of individuals who were setting off fireworks, possibly to cover-up the actions of a shoplifting crime,” Chattanooga Police Department spokesman Rob Simmons said in an released statement. “We have had reports of injuries due to their negligence.”
Police are looking for multiple individuals in connection with the crime.