Do you have a nice shopping mall where you live?

@MarieCoyle (56245)
March 22, 2026 10:04pm CST
I live in a bedroom community to a nearby city. It's handy, not that far, and the cost of living where I live is a lot less than living in the city, which is absolutely fine with me. We have a really nice shopping mall. It's not super large but large enough, has a variety of stores and such, places to eat, good security, parking, etc. It's in a nice area of the city. In the past there have been some off-and-on issues there, usually with teens there with friends and no adult, so the mall has tried to limit big groups of teens. If you are 14 or under, you must be accompanied by an adult. There have been no issues for a long time...until last night. A large group of young teens, mostly about 13-16 years old, congregated on the parking lot near one of the entrances. Then they started running in and out and causing some problems, being loud and rude, so the police were called to help security clear them out. As the police were arriving, they discovered a very large crowd of teens, yelling and jeering and blocking an entrance. This had escalated quickly. As the police exited their squad cars, they heard gunshots. One 16 year old received several gunshot wounds, and he died. They are trying to locate the suspected shooter, but evidently there was more than one teen who had a gun. Give that a minute to think about. Young teens with guns. And where did they get guns, and why do they have them? Often, it seems they take the gun from their own homes, it's an unsecured weapon and they can easily snatch it up before they go out with their friends. Why, WHY do these people not lock up weapons?? Why leave them out where a child has access to them?? Now a young man is dead. They still don't have a shooter in custody. This is only one incident of dozens that happen way, way too often. I know some people do not advocate for gun control, but it's needed. Too many guns, and not enough gun control, adds up to dead people. No wonder people do so much shopping online. No one wants to take the chance to go shopping anymore. I was never a big shopper--I am a person who goes and tries to find what I need and I am out of there. And times being as they are right now, we are basically down to needs, not wants. I haven't been to the mall for quite some time, and honestly I haven't missed it at all. This picture was taken from someone's dash camera. So far, the teen has not been identified, and they are not sure he was the shooter, as there was reportedly more than one teen with a gun. This teen is still at large--with the gun. As are the other suspected shooters...the fact that these kids are running with guns is just so tragic. If you own a weapon, secure it in a safe place. Please.
7 people like this
5 responses
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
38m
I own a weapon, as does Chris and we carry them. That is the point of having our own weapons, being able to protect ourselves and our loved ones whenever and wherever we need to. We do not have a mall anymore. There are several outdoor style malls where its just a bunch of stores all together near us. One in Destin, and one in Panama where we went yesterday but the one in Panama is called Pier Park and is more of a shopping center. As is the one in Destin.
1 person likes this
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
Just now
@MarieCoyle that’s one of the places we went to celebrate she child’s birthday. We also went to wonderworks. I don’t know if you’re familiar with that. Have you been to Destin too
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (56245)
Just now
@thislittlepennyearns Yes, we have stayed in Destin many times as well. Had family there at the time. I like both Destin and Panama City. I don't recall wonderworks, but the kids may have gone there.
@MarieCoyle (56245)
Just now
I have been to both of the malls you speak of here. I really like Pier Park center the best somehow. I have been to Panama City many times, and we always end up walking Pier Park.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (119440)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
36m
In my city there is a medium sized shopping mall. Thank goodness there is not much crime in that area.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (56245)
Just now
It's sad for the businesses that are close by, as well. They suffer when these things happen, for a long time.
@crossbones27 (52396)
• Mojave, California
52m
That's interesting, there is no malls here anymore, maybe because of youth and violence. California still has malls? Most of us were like just to damn expensive and kind of fake/ They say its a dying breed here, but yeah hear some are left. They were doing what Vegas is doing now over pricing everything to get rid of the poor, young and people they thought were undesirables. That's the way whole country is going now. How about just teach better instead of bankrupting one of neatest countries based on what it was supposed to be.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (56245)
43m
I know many malls that were truly nice places are now closed. I can understand why. It's a shame, but as you say, a dying breed thing.
1 person likes this
@sallypup (68423)
• Centralia, Washington
Just now
That's awful and scary. The nearest shopping center to me is down the freeway so I rarely go there.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
48m
I'm so sorry about the incident. No one wants to experience anything like that. I hope the authorities find the teenager at-large. I love shopping and going to a mall. We have a large grocery and a shopping mall near our apartment. We just walk to shop. I prefer to buy produce at a supermarket or a wet market. Other household items are purchased online.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (56245)
41m
We have quite a variety of stores that are not in malls, which is fine. And of course lots of places to buy groceries, so we are very fortunate, I know.
1 person likes this