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Aurora Mall Closed, Evacuated After Reports Of Large Fight

By Dillon Thomas

AURORA, Colo. (CBS4) - Five juveniles have been arrested, after Aurora Police say they were involved in an organized fight at the Aurora Town Center Mall.

Aurora Police spokesman Chris Amsler said a fight was allegedly coordinated on social media, and took place just before 5 p.m. Monday night.

When officers at the mall responded to the fight, Amsler said a crowd of more than 100 people surrounded them.

"The crowd began to circle our officers, so our officers had to call for help.," Amsler said.

Town Center Fight
(credit: Lala Muniz)

As the officers attempted to breakup the fight, the crowd grew to more than 500 people, according to Amsler.

"[Officers] had rifles in the mall, and they had batons to get people out of the mall," one witness told CBS4.

Denver Police and Arapahoe County Sheriff deputies aided in the response. More than 3,500 mall shoppers were evacuated from the mall. Police, and mall security, closed the shopping center for the remainder of the evening.

Town Center Fight
(credit: Lala Muniz)

Several other malls across the nation required large police response Monday, all based on different reports of crime. Aurora Police do not believe this incident was associated at this time.

Monday was the day after Christmas, one of the busiest shopping days for malls across the nation.

Before the fight took place in Aurora, CBS4 spoke to management at the Cherry Creek Mall in Denver, where high foot traffic on the day after Christmas took place.

"Today might be rivaled by other shopping days, such as a black Friday," said Dave Dixon, spokesman for Cherry Creek Mall. "This kicks off the beginning of either people coming in and exchanging gifts they received, or what we call the gift card redemption season."

Cherry Creek Mall did not have any fights reported, and closed Monday evening without incident.

LINK: Watch Video Of The Incident From Lala Muniz

Dillon Thomas is a reporter at CBS4 and a Colorado native. He believes everyone has a story, and would love to share yours! You can find more of his stories by following him on Twitter, @DillonMThomas.

 

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