Police say a fight in the food court preceded the single gunshot; the mall was set to reopen Wednesday.
WAYNE, N.J. — A single gunshot inside the Willowbrook Mall food court just after 7 p.m. Tuesday sent crowds running as officers with long guns flooded the building and evacuated shoppers, authorities said. No injuries were reported, and three people connected to an earlier fight were taken into custody for questioning.
Police said the gunshot followed a physical altercation in the food court area on Tuesday, Dec. 30, and that the scene was secured within minutes. Investigators emphasized there was no ongoing threat to the public. By early Wednesday, the on-site portion of the investigation had wrapped up, and officials said the mall planned to open on its regular schedule at 11 a.m. The case now centers on identifying who fired the weapon, determining what charges fit the evidence, and piecing together how a dispute escalated during a busy holiday week.
Witnesses described confusion that turned to panic after what sounded at first like a dropped object. “The first shot people thought it was a bottle cap, and once the second shot went off, that’s when everyone started really getting scared,” Ellison Lucien said while leaving with friends. Others recalled sprinting toward exits and then being guided out by officers carrying rifles. Police Chief Joseph Rooney said the first 911 calls hit just after 7 p.m. and described “a rapidly evolving situation” in a crowded common area. Officers from multiple agencies converged on the mall, secured the food court, and began interviewing people who had seen the fight and the flash of a muzzle.
Rooney said two adults and one juvenile were detained in connection with the altercation and were being questioned by detectives. The person who pulled the trigger remained at large as of Wednesday morning, according to officials. No injuries were confirmed despite stampede fears, and police reported no evidence of continued danger inside the building. Investigators canvassed stores for surveillance video, collected shell casings, and photographed the scene before releasing the area back to mall management. A store manager said staff ushered shoppers into back rooms during the rush, while one customer, Andre Moore, said he heard “a loud bang” and saw a patron run into a shop to warn others.
Willowbrook Mall, a regional shopping center in Passaic County, has heavy evening foot traffic during school breaks and the post-holiday period. The timing amplified the scare as families and teenagers crowded the food court. While high-profile mall shootings elsewhere have drawn national attention in recent years, Wayne officials stressed this incident involved a dispute that produced a single gunshot, not a prolonged attack. Local transit briefly adjusted routes around the complex during the police response, and entrances were taped off as crime scene technicians worked. By late night, cruisers and emergency vehicles thinned, and maintenance crews cleared debris left from the hurried evacuation.
Detectives will review store and hallway camera footage, witness statements, and any ballistic evidence to identify the shooter and map movements before and after the gunshot. Potential charges could range from weapons offenses to reckless endangerment, depending on findings and whether a firearm permit was involved. Officials said they would update the public when arrests or charges are authorized. The mall’s management coordinated with police on reopening plans for Wednesday, Dec. 31, and security staffing was expected to be visible through the holiday week as interviews continue.
Outside, a steady stream of parents collected teenagers who had fled without jackets or bags. “I was shaking like crazy,” said Saint Paul, who left with friends after seeing officers stack near an entrance. Another teen, Shane Garvey, said he heard “a bunch of footsteps” and felt the push of the crowd toward the corridor. Inside the secured food court, tables were overturned and a few trays lay scattered. By midnight, only cleaning crews and detectives remained under the bright lights as the mall prepared for normal hours.
As of Wednesday afternoon, police said the investigation was active, three people tied to the fight were in custody for questioning, and the search for the shooter was ongoing. The next update is expected after detectives complete video reviews and interviews later this week.
Author note: Last updated December 31, 2025.