New York mall on high alert after rowdy group of teens disrupts shops and clashes with police

Police Arrest Teenagers After Mall Disturbance in the Bronx

On Monday, law enforcement arrested 18 teenagers following a chaotic incident at a shopping mall in the Bronx, where a large group caused significant disruption. As stores and security personnel braced for potential trouble, there were concerns about a repeat of the earlier chaos.

“I’m really worried they might show up again today,” shared Camila Suarez, a hostess at Noches de Colombia restaurant in Baychester’s Mall at Bay Plaza, in an interview on Tuesday. “Last time was really messy, and they mentioned returning today,” she added, her voice tinged with anxiety.

Suarez described the scene: “There were about 200 kids. We quickly locked the door and kept the guests inside. This isn’t the first time something like this happened. It occurred around the same time last winter. I think they just don’t have anything to do during their break. They seem to get restless.” She paused, then added, “Honestly, it’s just a lot of idle time for them.”

“Yeah, it’s scary,” she continued. “My manager is really great, and he’s here today.”

The disturbance took place on President’s Day, with hundreds of unruly teenagers overwhelming the mall, causing mayhem by tossing chairs, snatching items, and toppling displays.

Khan Arif, who runs a Custom Trends T-shirt kiosk, recounted his experience, saying, “They even used my mannequins to attack me. They keep breaking them, and it’s just relentless. They come back again and again and ruin my setup.” He seemed resigned, stating, “I think they’ll be here again today. I just know it.”

Shop owners indicated that Monday’s incident was reminiscent of disturbances they faced last year. Earlier in the year, police had reported the arrest of 18 teenagers for unlawful assembly and rioting. Most were under 13, and only one, a 19-year-old, fit the adult age category.

Those young teens were charged as juveniles and released to their parents, authorities confirmed.

By Tuesday afternoon, multiple NYPD officers were present in the mall, while security personnel stayed vigilant, even blocking off certain entrances to prevent another outbreak of violence.

“It felt like they were planning another attack like they did last year, maybe to make a TikTok video or something. They were on the third floor, lobbing chairs around, and tried to get into my locked cabinet,” explained Jamie Arias, who works at a kiosk called Hemp City. “I can’t shake the feeling they might return,” she added thoughtfully.