Mall Shooting Incident
Two Injured in South Carolina Mall Shooting; Police Detain Several Suspects
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Two people were shot at Haywood Mall in Greenville, South Carolina, on June 13, according to USA Today. Police detained multiple suspects after reports of gunfire broke out at the state's largest shopping center. No additional shots were fired after officers arrived on scene.
Officers from the Greenville Police Department and the Greenville County Sheriff's Office responded to the mall at 700 Haywood Road. The mall was fully cleared and secured by early evening, Yahoo News reported.
Shooting Erupts from Escalated Fight Inside Mall
Police say the shooting began as an interpersonal dispute that turned violent. The first 911 calls came in around 4:18 PM, according to city dispatch logs cited by Head Topics. Officers located two victims with gunshot wounds inside the mall and EMS transported both to a nearby hospital.
At least 3 to 5 people were detained near the Cheesecake Factory entrance, based on witness accounts. Greenville Police Chief J.H. Thompson framed the event as an "escalated quarrel" — not a random mass shooting. Authorities reviewed surveillance footage from parking lots and common areas after the scene was secured.
Social Media Panic Spread Faster Than Police Updates
Unverified "active shooter" rumors flooded X, formerly Twitter, and the Citizen App within minutes of the first shots. Stores went into lockdown. Shoppers barricaded in stockrooms. One man urged followers online to "check on your people if they were going today," according to Head Topics.
The scale of the police response — which included the State Law Enforcement Division and Highway Patrol — reflected how seriously authorities take mall violence. The psychological impact on shoppers extended well beyond the two confirmed injuries.
Haywood Mall Has a Long History of Security Problems
The June 13 shooting is not an isolated event. In June 2025, a juvenile assault at the same mall triggered false "shots fired" reports and a mass panic. In August 2025, an 18-year-old was found with a fatal gunshot wound in the mall parking lot. Following those incidents, mall management promised increased security, Yahoo News reported.
Haywood Mall is owned by Simon Property Group, which reported $5.99 billion in annual revenue in 2025. Local residents have questioned whether that revenue has translated into better on-site security. Allied Universal Security, the private firm contracted by the mall, has faced repeated criticism over its ability to stop brawls before police must intervene.
Shooting Clouds Greenville's Falling Crime Numbers
Chief Thompson reported just this week that Greenville saw a 20% drop in violent crime in the first quarter of 2026, according to the City of Greenville's official newsroom. He said officers are "continuing the trend and very proud of the work" being done. The mall shooting now complicates that narrative.
The incident also landed at a bad time for Haywood Mall's business plans. The mall was in the middle of a summer 2026 expansion, adding stores like Miss A, FP Movement, and Clarks. High-profile violence typically causes a short-term drop in foot traffic, putting new retail launches at risk.
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