Officials: Shooting at New Jersey mall leaves 2 injured

JERSEY CITY, N.J. -- Two people were shot in an altercation Friday night that began as a fistfight in the food court of a Jersey City mall and led to the building being evacuated, officials said.

Police had two people in custody, but they were not certain that either was the shooter who began the incident at the Newport Centre mall. Authorities are reviewing surveillance footage to determine that, according to Mayor Steven Fulop, who spoke to reporters at an impromptu news conference with police Friday night.

No one was injured during the evacuation, which Fulop called orderly. Police Chief Michael Kelly said "no friendly person" was shot.

One of those shot was hit in the abdomen, and the second was hit in the arm. They brought themselves to Jersey City Medical Center and are in critical but stable condition, authorities said.

There is an arrest warrant out for one of the injured men in connection with another recent shooting. Kelly said he was wanted for attempted murder.

"We know some of the players here, we know some of the victims, and we certainly think that they weren't up to anything very good in the mall," he said.

He said the shooting could be gang-related.

While Kelly and Fulop repeatedly referred to "the shooter" in the brief news conference, Kelly also declined to confirm whether there was, in fact, just one shooter. He also would not say how many shots were fired.

Police were first called about a fistfight in the food court of the mall about 6p.m. and later received reports of shots fired. Some bystanders told northjersey.com that people panicked when they heard the gunshots, and security guards initially told them to stay inside stores. They were later told to leave the mall.

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