DENVER — A weekend gathering of hundreds of teenagers at Northfield Mall turned chaotic, triggering a police response and generating concerns about safety and planning on social media.

According to the Denver Police Department, a group of about 300 youths gathered at the mall about 6 p.m. Saturday for what detectives describe as a “planned event” organised online. The group did not appear to be there to shop, and multiple witnesses reported that the youngsters immediately caused disturbances around the retail centre.

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“Pandemonium, running through the mall—it was kind of like a riot,” said Devin Donlon, Zumiez’s store manager.

According to witnesses, fights broke out inside establishments and in the surrounding regions. Ty McKay, who was in the mall at the time, characterised the situation as “unruly.”

“You saw kids getting jumped — 10 people on one,” according to McKay. “We just started breaking up fights, throwing kids off of kids.”

Donlon stated that his store was forced to close early for safety reasons, resulting in a lost hour of business.

“There were kids banging on my glass, trying to come in, destroy stuff, steal stuff,” he told me. “They absolutely destroyed [another nearby store], throwing stuff off tables onto the floor, stealing things, running out with it.”

According to police, no arrests were made, and no property damage was formally documented, despite one report of two small things stolen from a shop. Investigators are currently determining whether the theft was connected to the gang.

As cops sought to separate the throng, several minors reportedly fled to surrounding neighbourhoods along Central Park Boulevard and East 46th Avenue, where further disturbances were recorded.

While some community members criticised the lack of repercussions, others acknowledged the difficulties law enforcement faced.

“It was too many kids,” McKay remarked. “You lacked the resources to make arrests like that. But we need to figure out how to make this a welcoming and safe environment for these children.”

Police say they are still investigating the event.