Shopping malls present more security challenges than other public locations because of their large open spaces and multiple interior doorways that lead to restaurants and shops — dead-ends with no exterior exits, say security experts.
Shoppers at the American Dream mall found this out on April 7 as they scrambled for safety when gunshots rang out in the 3 million-square-foot complex in East Rutherford.
A 37-year-old man was shot multiple times in one of the country's biggest retail and entertainment complexes. The gunfire caused fear and confusion in shoppers and employees who were in the mall.
Most ran in search of exterior exits, and others found hiding places. Shoppers expressed their confusion on social media. Unlike schools, where students participate in emergency drills for active shooters, fires and many other scenarios, shoppers in malls are not clued in on the best action to take. They are on their own.
American Dream was shut down as police searched for the suspect or suspects. Most of the shoppers who had not exited the mall were hiding in shops that had quickly shut their doors. Many inside were looking to reunite with their children and other family members who were in other sections of the large mall.
New Jersey State Police called the American Dream mall shooting an "isolated incident" and assured the public there was no cause for concern. The next day the mall reopened with an increase in security and police.
The shooting victim was taken to a local...
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