Nearly 1,000 Teenagers Packed a Pittsburgh Mall. What They Did Inside Shut the Whole Place Down.

MONROEVILLE, Pa. (TheBlaze/AP) — Thousands of teens packed a mall on the day after Christmas.

But they weren't there to shop — they were there to fight.

Image via YouTube

Authorities say several fights broke out among hundreds of teens who packed a western Pennsylvania shopping center, forcing it to close early, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.

The Monroeville Mall, famously the setting for the zombie classic "Dawn of the Dead," saw at least six fights break out Friday evening as up to 1,000 teenagers packed the space.

Image via YouTube

Kyle Edwards, 18, who works at the American Eagle store on the mall’s second floor, saw the whole thing go down.

“There were quite a few people fighting,” he said. “I walked back in the store and said, ’This is really bad.’”

Monroeville Police Chief K. Douglas Cole said at least two people were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

Cole said large groups of teens began showing up around 5 p.m., with the crowds swelling to as many as 1,000, according to mall security officers. Cole said he doesn't believe it was an organized event or protest.

Image via YouTube

Employees said stores closed early after fights were reported around 8 p.m. Cole reported minor damage to the mall, including to kiosks.

Cole said he expects officers to issue disorderly conduct citations. He said two arrests for fighting were related to an earlier domestic dispute.

—

Follow Zach Noble (@thezachnoble) on Twitter