Long Beach, California – The Pike Outlets in Long Beach closed early on Saturday following a major disturbance involving multiple fights among juveniles, leading the Long Beach Police Department to take action. Reports indicated that around 200 juveniles gathered at the shopping center for a meetup after a social media post went viral, prompting police to station officers nearby.
Video footage captured by OC Hawk showed two young girls engaging in a fistfight while surrounded by a large group of onlookers, many of whom were recording the altercation on their phones. Police intervened, eventually arresting the two girls involved and maintaining a presence to monitor the area. A bus was also brought in as a precaution in case there was a need to detain a large number of juveniles.
In response to the incident, The Pike Outlets and store owners decided to close shops early, with the shopping center shutting down at around 6 p.m. Saturday. Visitors were instructed to vacate the premises, with police warning of potential arrests for trespassing after a certain time. Residents of Long Beach voiced concerns about the recent uptick in violence, including a shooting in a crowded area over the weekend that fortunately did not result in any injuries.
Additionally, recent incidents in the community included a near-fatal stabbing of a food truck vendor who intervened during a robbery and a fatal stabbing at a local Dave’s Hot Chicken restaurant. The suspect in the latter case was apprehended at LAX a few days later, prompting the restaurant to adjust its closing hours as a safety measure. Two women, an adult and a juvenile, were arrested in connection with the fights at The Pike Outlets, although the reason behind the altercation remains unclear.
As the situation continues to unfold, updates will be provided to keep the public informed about the ongoing developments in the area.