3 Young Teens Charged In Pentagon City Mall Fights: Police

ARLINGTON COUNTY, VA — Three young teens are charged after multiple fights in the food court Saturday night at Fashion Centre at Pentagon City forced the mall to close early and left several people injured, according to police.

A 13-year-old girl was charged with rioting and assaulting police; a 15-year-old girl was charged with assaulting police, two counts of assault and battery, injury to a person in a riot and obstruction of justice; and a 14-year-old boy was charged with assaulting police, rioting with a weapon and trespassing, authorities said.

Officers responded shortly after 7 p.m. to the food court brawls in the 1100 block of South Hayes Street, according to authorities, who said the crowd remained disorderly despite the police presence and the mall was evacuated.

The 13-year-old ignored police, pushed an officer and resisted law enforcement, but was taken into custody by multiple officers, authorities said. The 15-year-old assaulted a store employee, an officer and mall security before she was taken into custody, according to police, who said the 14-year-old assaulted an officer and resisted arrest. He was eventually taken into custody and a knife was recovered, police said.

Officers, mall security, a store employee, the 13-year-old and the 15-year-old all suffered minor injuries, according to police.

The mall reopened Sunday and police are conducting increased patrols in the area, authorities said.