Two festivals outside malls were marred by violence over the weekend, with a shooting at one of them leaving one teen dead and another critically wounded.
A 16-year-old was killed after a fight erupted outside a carnival at Concord Mall in Wilmington, Del., at about 10:45 p.m. Saturday, Delaware State Police said. Troopers performed life-saving measures on both teens before they were rushed to the hospital, but one could not be saved, reported WCAU-TV. A 17-year-old was reported in serious condition.
“A preliminary investigation shows that a fight broke out between several people near the entrance of a carnival that was in the parking lot,” Delaware State Police said in a statement. “It was learned that during the fight, an unknown suspect pulled a gun and fired several shots, hitting the two teenagers. The suspect fled the scene in an unknown direction.”
As of Sunday evening, no one had been arrested.
While that festival continued, another one at Exton Square Mall, about 30 miles west of Philadelphia, was shut down entirely after the organizers’ permit was revoked following the assault caught by a business’s surveillance camera.
“Due to out-of-control behavior and the unrest that transpired, the Exton Square Mall Carnival is closed. Indefinitely,” festival sponsor Goodtime Amusements said in a short statement. “We appreciate the families that came out to have fun with their families.”
The carnival was originally slated to last through May 18, WCAU reported. According to surveillance video shared by the West Whiteland Police Department, the assault occurred after the carnival had finished for the night. The footage showed “a male with long hair being punched and kicked several times,” police said.
“There are several witnesses to this assault, and we are asking for help to identify the victim, witnesses and suspect,” the department said.
