Juvenile shoplifting suspect shot in leg at Holyoke Mall in exchange with officer

Following a gunfight between police and a young stealing suspect who was injured in the leg, the Holyoke Mall was evacuated on Friday night.

According to a release from Chief Brian Keenan, a mall security guard reportedly noticed the suspect shoplifting at approximately 4:30 p.m. and reported the incident to local Holyoke Police Department officers.

The suspect was confronted by police next to Round One, the mall’s bowling facility and arcade. The young person produced a gun, and both he and an officer fired one shot, according to the police. According to Keenan, the suspect suffered a non-life-threatening leg injury, but the officer was unharmed. Nobody else was struck.

First assistance was given by officers right away, and the suspect was taken to a nearby hospital. The suspect was only described by officials as a male minor who had been taken into custody. They found his gun.

The mall stayed closed for the remainder of the evening after being evacuated on Friday. According to Keenan, there was an increased police presence when it reopened on Saturday.

Holyoke police are conducting an ongoing investigation with assistance from State Police and the office of Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni.

During a fight at a hair and nail salon in the Holyoke Mall in 2023, an innocent bystander was shot and killed. Following the most recent shooting, Keenan tried to comfort the public.

In a statement, he stated, “I do want to make it clear that, despite the fact that this incident may cause fear, the Holyoke Mall is a safe place to visit and shop.” To handle situations like this and guarantee public safety, we have officers on duty. This incident did not injure any innocent bystanders. Our officers are here to safeguard our residents and guests, so please do not hesitate to call 9-1-1 if you observe anything unusual while at the mall or anywhere else in our community. For their help during this incident, I would also like to thank the Springfield Police, Chicopee Police, West Springfield Police, and Massachusetts State Police.

Since 2022, Ross Cristantiello has been a general assignment news correspondent for Boston.com, covering a variety of topics such as local politics, crime, and the environment.