Concord Mills closes early due to large group of teens fighting, police say

CONCORD, N.C. — Concord Mills closed early Saturday evening due to several teenagers fighting, police said.

Officials said a large police presence responded to the mall because there was a large group of juveniles. They said officers tried to disperse the group to prevent further issues.

According to police, mall management decided to close the mall early.

Maegan Cox said she was having dinner with her mother and 8-year-old daughter at Outback Steakhouse and saw the scuffle.

“We noticed this car came by and they were playing, yelling, and then we turned around, and I’ve seen like a group probably about 20 to 25 kids running through the parking lot screaming and yelling,” Cox said. “And then the next thing I knew, I hear something hitting a car, and my mom was behind me and she said that a rock came within, like, maybe a couple of inches from hitting her in the face.”

They were terrified and left.

Anthony Ealy was nearby, picking up a Doordash order when he saw a crowd of kids near Chipotle.

“When I was walking to the Chipotle, it was whole bunch of guys going to a truck, and they were about to start a fight right there,” Ealy said. “One guy had pulled his shirt off, and he was ready to fight then the police came. As soon as the police came around, they dispersed.”

Concord police said they caught 10 of the kids and some of them were as young as 12 years old. They were turned over to their parents.

Cox said she will think twice before returning to the mall.

“It’s very heartbreaking and to be honest with you, you know, my eight year old is very innocent and all this, and she just wanted to go play some games,” Cox said. “And you know, because they’re just coming out there, causing havoc and wreaking havoc on everything. It puts a damper on won’t even go in there.”

Officers have not said if anyone was hurt in the fights.

Man in custody after argument leads to gun being found at Concord Mills

Cox Media Group