Shocking videos show hundreds of schoolchildren punching and kicking each other at a mall after rumors of a fight spread on Snapchat
- New York police were called to Queens Center Mall in Elmhurst on Friday at 1pm
- Hundreds of teens let out of school early massed inside mall’s food court
- Rumors of a fight at the mall circulated earlier in the day on Snapchat
- Chaos ensued when someone threw fake money off upper level railing in mall
- Melee was likely because some of the kids thought the money was real
- Four people were injured and one was arrested, according to police
A fight involving hundreds of teens who were scrambling to grab fake dollar bills which they thought was real money at a Queens mall prompted police to shut down stores while officers removed the rowdy kids from the area.
The chaos at the Queens Center in Elmhurst involved some 200 schoolchildren who descended on the mall after being let out of class early on Friday.
In the early afternoon hours, a crush of schoolchildren gathered in the Queens Center food court after rumors of a fight began circulating on Snapchat, according to WABC-TV.
Inside the mall, someone began throwing fake dollar bills over a railing from an upper level, though it is unclear why.
Police were called to the scene at around 1pm.
Cell phone video shows hundreds of teens inside the Queens Center shopping mall in the Elmhurst section of Queens, New York, on Friday afternoon
Police were called to the area after reports of a fight. Rumors of a fight began circulating earlier in the day on Snapchat, according to reports
The official Twitter account of the NYPD’s 110th Precinct posted a message which read: ‘#HappeningNow we have a large disturbance at Queens Center Mall.
‘Half-day for our schools has brought a large # of youths to the mall and some are acting disorderly.
‘Officers and Mall staff are acting quickly to restore normal conditions.
‘For now please stay out of the area.’
Two hours later, the NYPD posted another tweet which read: I want to update the public on Queens Center condition…the mall is open and inside is clear. We are still working on clearing the crowd from the surrounding area, just to be safe, please avoid the area and help us.’
Police cars are seen outside the mall in Elmhurst on Friday afternoon
Stores were shuttered while police worked to clear the area of teens on Friday afternoon
One young girl who was injured in the melee is seen being taken to an ambulance on Friday
Video captured on a cell phone shows a large crowd of teens gathered outside the mall.
A few of them were seen kicking and punching children who were on the ground.
One teen who was hearing a hooded sweatshirt was dragged into the street by another youth.
Police said four people were injured and one person was arrested.
As a precaution, police did not allow anyone under the age of 18 to re-enter the mall.
A Queens Center spokesperson released a statement which read: ‘We are disappointed by the actions of the teens in our community today and remain committed to providing a safe, enjoyable community destination for everyone.’
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority said that the massive police presence in and around the mall caused delays on three bus lines.