2 People Shot At Newport Centre Mall Food Court: Report

JERSEY CITY, NJ — Two people were reportedly shot Friday night at the Newport Centre Mall on the third floor in the area of the food court.

The shooting reportedly occurred following a fistfight and were possibly connected to ongoing gang violence, nj.com reported.

Multiple news sources are reporting the shooting was targeted. The two victims went to a nearby hospital with gunshot wounds, one to the arm and the other to the abdomen; both are in critical but stable condition, according to nbcnewyork.com.

Both victims were known to police and one reportedly had a search warrant for his arrest in connection with a separate shooting days before on Grant Avenue, also in Jersey City, pix11.com reported.

Shoppers were chased out of the mall by security with some still trapped inside hiding in stores, witnesses said.

Joseph Tarrazi was inside dining at the Zinburger Wine & Burger Bar around 6 p.m. on the first floor of the mall when he said a manager ran out and yelled "Get out! Get out!"

Security chased everyone out of the mall into the cold weather, Tarrazi recalled.

"It happened so fast," Tarrazi said. "I had just walked away from where the shooting happened on the third floor by the Burger King about five minutes before it happened."

Tarrazi's husband George was still inside one of the stores, Sunglass Hut on the second floor when the shooting occurred. He was trapped inside until about 6:30 p.m.

The mall is currently on lockdown and bus service to and from Newport Center Mall in Jersey City has been temporary stopped, NJ Transit reported.

This is a developing story.

— Note: Joseph Tarrazi is a family member of Editor Alexis Tarrazi

(Images and video via Joseph Tarrazi)

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