Posts shared on social media before Thursday encouraged teens to gather at Green Acres Mall at 3 p.m., describing the event as a “takeover” that would continue until participants were made to leave.
Later that day, a disturbance at the mall drew a response from the Nassau County Police Department at 4:35 p.m. Detectives said that upon arriving, officers encountered a crowd of up to 150 juveniles who were yelling and refusing to leave.
Police said eight male juveniles and one 19-year-old man were arrested as officers worked to disperse the crowd.
Authorities identified the adult as Keith Williams. He is charged with riot, unlawful assembly, attempted assault and endangering the welfare of a child.
Among the juveniles, a 13-year-old is charged with riot and unlawful assembly, and a 14-year-old is charged with criminal possession of a weapon. One 15-year-old faces two counts of robbery, assault, riot and unlawful assembly. Another 15-year-old is charged with attempted criminal mischief, reckless endangerment of property, riot, unlawful assembly and criminal possession of a weapon. A third 15-year-old is charged with petit larceny. Among the 16-year-olds, one is charged with riot, unlawful assembly and criminal possession of a weapon; another is charged with riot and unlawful assembly; and a third 16-year-old is charged with petit larceny.
All the juveniles are scheduled to appear in Family Court on March 3. Williams will appear the same day in First District Court.
The mall has since added restrictions, requiring anyone under 18 to be accompanied by a parent while inside.
