EMERYVILLE — What started as a group of young people causing a disturbance in an Emeryville store late Sunday afternoon turned into what police called “civil unrest,” during which one person was stabbed and gunshots were reported.
Emeryville police had to call for reinforcements from neighboring law enforcement agencies during a four-hour incident involving hundreds of young people fighting.
A witness who did not want to be identified shared video with KPIX showing the dramatic scene moments after they were able to evacuate the AMC movie theater.
“When we asked people what’s happening, they’re like ‘people are going around pepper-spraying people, there’s people throwing chairs!’ and it was just very hectic,” she said of the scene outside the theater. “Once we left the parking lot, we heard a gunshot.”
At approximately 4:30 p.m., police received a call from a business at the Bay Street Mall about a group of approximately 50 young adults inside the store causing a disturbance. Officers arrived and escorted them out.
Police said in a statement that at about 5:15 p.m., while patrolling the area, officers saw another group of about 100 young people arrived at the Bay Street Mall. Over the next 30 minutes, an additional 100-150 young adults showed up at the mall.
At about 5:40 pm, the first of several fights were reported near the courtyard area of the mall. Officers attempted to maintain the peace while additional smaller fights broke out. Police then called for assistance from other agencies, including Berkeley police.
At about 5:50 p.m., there was a report of a single gunshot fired near Bay Street and Ohlone Way. Officers didn’t locate any victims or suspects.
Around 7 p.m., police received a call of a stabbing near Elm Drive. Officers found a juvenile victim and emergency medical responders rendered aid and transported the juvenile to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
With officers patrolling the area, most of the crowds dispersed by 8:30 p.m., police said.
Witnesses who said they were about 10 minutes into their movie showing when the lights came on and a worker told them to begin evacuating.
“It was just like a lot of chaos going on … and we just really wanted to get out,” another witness who did not want to be identified told KPIX.
There were no other reports of injuries or looting, police said.
Anyone who may have witnessed fights or other criminal activity or has a video of such, is encouraged to contact Emeryville police at (510) 593-3700 or [email protected]. People may remain anonymous.
KPIX correspondent Betty Yu contributed to this report
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