Eight arrests were made after fights broke out near the Orange Park Mall on Christmas night. Two of the people arrested were juveniles.
The Clay County Sheriff's Office said hundreds of teens and young adults were hanging out at the mall's movie theater when multiple fights broke out. The teens also jumped on cars, the Sheriff's Office said.
The eight arrests were related to the fights, as well as drug possession and resisting arrest, CCSO said. According to police, officers found a sub-machine-type gun on one person involved in Friday night's incident. They arrested the unidentified suspect.
The Orange Park Mall released a statement Saturday afternoon that said: "We maintain a zero tolerance policy for unlawful behavior as we strive to provide the best possible shopping experience. We thank the Clay County Sheriff's Office for their quick response."
CCSO said an investigation is ongoing. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and Orange Park Police Department assisted CCSO Friday night.
Andrea Ussery shared Action News Jax's Facebook post of the story and shared her experience of the incident.
Ussery visited the Orange Park Mall movie theater with her family Christmas night. She said minutes before fights broke out, her family took a picture outside the theater. A friendly Orange Park police officer jumped in and photobombed their photo, Ussery said, and then was nice enough to take several other photos with her family.
Ussery said moments later that same officer was breaking up multiple fights and claims the officer was assaulted by several teens.
"It all happened so fast, right (before) my eyes (and) and literally brought me to tears," Ussery wrote.
