Recent shooting at mall in Delaware

[Delarage]

A 17-year old and his two younger accomplices had some kind of argument at the food court at the Christiana Mall in Delaware. The 17-year-old shooter shot several people (no deaths, fortunately) but there was pandemonium at the mall. I know several people who were there when it happened. Our local newspaper interviewed some folks that were there, including 13-year-old Penny and her younger siblings. I'm afraid the article may be for subscribers only, but I'll link anyway. But some of their thoughts really struck me:

Penny described it as “the average American life.” They assumed something like this would happen, but not at a mall.

“I always knew a shock like this would happen to me," 7-year-old Andy told his oldest sister, "but I thought it would be at school."

https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/local/2023/04/10/christiana-mall-shooting-wilmington-delaware-children-recount-escape/70097139007/

[Walleye]

1. That's horrible I'm glad nobody was killed, I go there often

Not as much as I used to now that I’m retired, Sure makes me long for a good old fashion fist fight among teenagers. They used to have what they called a rumble, lots of pushin’ and punchin’ never any firearms as I recall. Teenage boys get in a fist fight then years later they can meet up and laugh about it, can’t do that with guns.

[Delarage]

2. I only go

During off-peak times---and mainly for the Target or the Trader Joes and restaurants on the other side. I hate the traffic and crowds and DEFINITELY don't want to get shot! I've never seen problems there, but you're right--these days people don't solve problems non-violently very well.

[woodsprite]

5. Way before we had kids, hubby and I were

there and ducked in MacMahon Books to get out of the way of cops chasing kids with chains through the mall. Another time we came out and a helicopter was circling the parking lot with its search light beaming down. So that was over 20-some years ago.

We still go once in awhile, but we do keep an eye out. Our son said teens are regularly chased through the mall and mall security is pretty good about kicking them out before curfew. Probably due to the holiday, he said Easter weekend security presence seemed light - and only the cops on duty carry firearms. General mall security doesn’t. He didn’t know if they carry tasers or not.

[sheshe2]

3. This from a seven year old.

Seven. That poor child is far older than his years.

“I always knew a shock like this would happen to me," 7-year-old Andy told his oldest sister, "but I thought it would be at school."

[woodsprite]

4. My son was there working.

He helped get people out the back of his store. When his boss told him he should have kicked the people out, lock the clear glass doors and continue the shutdown process for the night, then leave through the food court, he told her he had followed all the active shooter training he had - to the letter - run, hide, fight. Drills in middle/high school, training at UD, and training at his previous job. There was no register or counting out to be done since they don’t deal in cash sales. I pointed out to him that most likely she never had to deal with any of that in school. Age wise she seems to be between the ‘duck and cover’ and Columbine generations.

Thankfully his district manager told him he handled it well and asked what training his other retail job used. Apparently what to do in that situation is not part of their training program.

[k8conant]

6. He did well.

Good for him and the others.