Two adults and a juvenile were detained in the aftermath; investigators continue searching for the shooter.
WAYNE, N.J. — Willowbrook Mall planned to open on its regular schedule Wednesday after a gun was fired during a fight in the food court just after 7 p.m. Tuesday, prompting a heavy police response and a swift evacuation. No injuries were reported, authorities said.
Wayne police said the on-scene evidence sweep wrapped up overnight, clearing the way for stores to operate while detectives handle follow-up work. The episode unfolded on Dec. 30 at one of North Jersey’s busiest shopping hubs, crowded with holiday-week visitors. Officials said three people connected to the altercation were detained for questioning. The shooter had not been identified as of midday Wednesday, and police asked anyone who witnessed the fight to speak with investigators. Mall managers coordinated with officers on reopening plans and said customers would see a visible security presence.
Calls to 911 began moments after a loud bang echoed through the food court. Teenagers described sprinting as alarms sounded and shoppers poured into corridors. “I heard a bunch of footsteps and I was just getting pushed by a bunch of people,” said Shane Garvey, who left with friends by a side exit. Another teen, Saint Paul, said, “I was shaking like crazy” while moving past officers with long guns posted near the entrance. Police Chief Joseph Rooney said patrols reached the food court within minutes, secured the scene, and started separating witnesses from those believed to be involved in the brawl.
Rooney said two adults and one juvenile were detained in connection with the fight and were cooperating as detectives reviewed surveillance video from hallways and individual stores. Investigators recovered physical evidence from the food court and collected statements to determine the sequence that ended with a single gunshot. No one was struck, and medical crews treated several people for anxiety but reported no transport-level injuries. A store manager said employees locked doors and moved customers to stockrooms after being alerted by radio that police were sweeping the wing.
The mall’s location near major highways draws steady crowds, especially during school breaks, and the incident came as retailers were clearing holiday inventory. In recent years, regional centers have drilled evacuation steps with local police, and those procedures appeared to speed Tuesday’s response, according to workers who described customers being guided to loading areas and exterior lots. Transit briefly diverted buses that circulate around the complex while cruisers lined the ring road and tape sealed off the food court entrance for crime scene photographs and measurements.
Detectives are now building a timeline from camera footage, cell-phone videos, and point-of-sale timestamps. Possible charges could include unlawful possession of a weapon and aggravated assault related to the fight; prosecutors will decide once the shooter is identified and evidence is complete. Officials said any formal charging decisions or name releases would come after interviews conclude and video is matched to witness accounts. The mall’s management said it would maintain extra staffing through the weekend and continue coordinating with police as the case develops.
By late Tuesday night, most shoppers had left the area and crews reset overturned chairs in the food court. “The first shot, people thought it was a bottle cap,” said Ellison Lucien, who left with a group of teens. “Once the second sound hit, everyone started to really move.” Outside, parents idled along the curb, scanning phones and waving toward friends who had made it out ahead of them. Shortly before dawn, investigators finished the final walkthrough and pulled down the remaining tape.
As of Wednesday afternoon, police said the investigation remained active, three people connected to the altercation had been detained, and the search for the person who fired the gun continued. Officials said they would share the next update after reviewing additional video later this week.
Author note: Last updated December 31, 2025.