Editing Mall of America (section)

==Safety and security==

=== Security personnel ===
Behavior Detection Officers (BDOs) are trained in Israel, each one going through at least 240 hours of training.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Inside the Anti-Terror Task Force at the Mall of America|url = https://foreignpolicy.com/2015/02/23/inside-the-anti-terror-task-force-at-the-mall-of-america/|website = Foreign Policy|access-date = October 4, 2015}}</ref> As Doug Reynolds, the former Security Director at the mall noted in a congressional testimony in 2008, BDOs are taught to "look for intent, rather than means. The objective is to focus on suspicious indicators in three categories: People, vehicles, and unattended items like backpacks, shopping bags, and suitcases."<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.gpoaccess.gov/congress/index.html|title = The Challenge of Protecting Mass Gatherings in a Post-9/11 World|date = July 9, 2008|access-date = October 4, 2015|website = US Government Printing Office|publisher = Committee on Homeland Security|last = Committee on Homeland Security House of Representatives One Hundred Tenth Congress|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120113082946/http://www.gpoaccess.gov/congress/index.html|archive-date = January 13, 2012}}</ref> This methodology has prepared the mall for a variety of threats, both from terrorists and everyday criminals.

In 2010, the [[Minnesota Star Tribune]] reported that mall security officials were instructed to question or detain individuals exhibiting what they deemed "suspicious behavior". Signs of suspicious behavior included photographing air-conditioning ducts, or signs that a shopper was hiding something.<ref name="startribune1">{{cite news|url=http://www.startribune.com/business/129559713.html|title=They're watching at the Mall of America|author=G.W. SCHULZ, DANIEL ZWERDLING and ANDREW BECKER|date=September 11, 2011|access-date=January 8, 2015|newspaper=Star Tribune}}</ref> At the time, some officials within the Bloomington Police Department worried that the mall's security methods may infringe peoples' rights.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.salon.com/news/politics/feature/2011/09/07/mallofamerica|title=The shadow of suspicion falls in the Mall of America|date=September 7, 2011|work=Salon}}</ref>

In 2011, [[NPR]]'s ''[[All Things Considered]]'' and ''[[Morning Edition]]'' and [[PBS]]'s [[PBS NewsHour|''NewsHour'']] both aired programs documenting security abuses by the mall's security personnel.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/2011/09/07/140234451/under-suspicion-at-the-mall-of-america  |title=Under Suspicion at the Mall of America |publisher=NPR |date=September 7, 2011}}</ref> On December 31, 2013, members from the [[First Nations in Canada|First Nations]] protest movement [[Idle No More]] attempted to repeat a successful Native-American round dance held at the mall in 2012,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.citypages.com/blotter/2012/12/idle_no_more_flash_dance_brings_more_than_1000_protesters_to_mall_of_america_video.php|title=Idle No More flash dance brings more than 1,000 protesters to Mall of America|last1=Rupar|first1=Aaron|website=CityPages|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150222211923/http://blogs.citypages.com/blotter/2012/12/idle_no_more_flash_dance_brings_more_than_1000_protesters_to_mall_of_america_video.php|archive-date=February 22, 2015|url-status=dead|access-date=February 22, 2015}}</ref> but failed after being stopped by mall security. Organizers of the dance, Patricia Shepard and Reyna Crow from [[Duluth]] were arrested on site for trespassing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.northlandsnewscenter.com/news/local/Idle-No-More-Round-Dance-attempt-ends-in-arrest-at-Mall-of-America-238327111.html|title="Idle No More" Round Dance attempt ends in arrests at Mall of America|author=KBJR News|publisher=Northland Newsletter|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104175200/http://www.northlandsnewscenter.com/news/local/Idle-No-More-Round-Dance-attempt-ends-in-arrest-at-Mall-of-America-238327111.html|archive-date=January 4, 2014|url-status=dead|access-date=February 22, 2015}}</ref>

In January 2023, a TikTok was posted of a man wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the slogan ''Jesus saves'' and the [[Coexist (image)]] logo crossed out being asked to either take it off or leave the mall, the member of security in the video saying "Jesus is associated with religion and it is offending people. People have been offended." In the video he stated that in another instance he was preaching in the mall and the mall has a policy against religious solicitation.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.christianheadlines.com/contributors/amanda-casanova/man-is-told-leave-mall-of-america-for-wearing-jesus-is-the-only-way-shirt.html |title=Man Is Allegedly Told to Leave Mall of America for Wearing 'Jesus Is the Only Way' Shirt |website=Christian Headlines |date=January 12, 2023 |access-date=January 16, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/lifestyle-buzz/man-in-jesus-saves-t-shirt-at-mall-of-america-told-to-take-it-off/ |title=Man in Jesus Saves t-shirt at Mall of America told to take it off |website=MSN |date=January 16, 2023 |access-date=January 16, 2023}}</ref>

=== Militant threat ===
In February 2015, the [[Al-Shabaab (militant group)|al-Shabaab]] militant group also released a propaganda video calling for attacks on the Mall of America and other Western shopping centers.<ref name="Bpctuhsctmv">{{cite news|title='Be particularly careful' today, U.S. homeland security chief tells MOA visitors|url=http://www.startribune.com/printarticle/?id=293319551|access-date=February 22, 2015|work=Star Tribune|date=February 22, 2015}}</ref> Although the group had never launched attacks in North America,<ref name="Nittwemvrs">{{cite news|title=No 'imminent threat' to West Edmonton Mall visitors, RCMP says|url=https://edmontonjournal.com/Terror+group+Shabaab+calls+attack+West+Edmonton+Mall/10833693/story.html|access-date=February 22, 2015|work=Edmonton Journal|date=February 22, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224194018/http://www.edmontonjournal.com/Terror%2Bgroup%2BShabaab%2Bcalls%2Battack%2BWest%2BEdmonton%2BMall/10833693/story.html|archive-date=February 24, 2015}}</ref> security at the mall was tightened in response and the [[United States Department of Homeland Security|Department of Homeland Security]] issued a one-day alert to shoppers to remain vigilant.<ref name="Bpctuhsctmv" />

=== Protests ===
On December 21, 2014, thousands of protesters attended an unauthorized demonstration organized by [[Black Lives Matter]] in the mall's rotunda. The demonstration was in response to the [[shooting of Michael Brown]] in Ferguson, Missouri and the then recent jury decision not to prosecute the white officer in that case, as well as the [[death of Eric Garner]] of New York. In response to the demonstration, the Mall of America closed the areas of the mall around the rotunda.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/21/us/chanting-black-lives-matter-protesters-shut-down-part-of-mall-of-america.html|title=Chanting 'Black Lives Matter,' Protesters Shut Down Part of Mall of America|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=The New York Times|date=December 21, 2014 |access-date=March 21, 2015}}</ref> Police arrested 25 demonstrators.<ref name="cnn">{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/21/us/mall-of-america-black-lives-protest/index.html|title='Black Lives Matter' protesters storm mall|author1=Ben Brumfield|date=December 21, 2014|access-date=January 9, 2015|publisher=CNN}}</ref> The Bloomington City Attorney, Sandra Johnson, pursued charges against the organizers,<ref name="startribune">{{cite news|url=http://www.startribune.com/local/west/286734251.html|title=Bloomington seeks charges against Mall of America protesters|author1=LIBOR JANY|date=December 24, 2014|work=Star Tribune|access-date=January 9, 2015}}</ref> and the city is sought compensatory damages from some of the organizers for out-of-pocket costs the city incurred while paying overtime for additional security. In response to these charges, demonstrators have called for a boycott of the mall.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mprnews.org/story/2015/03/10/mall-of-america-protesters-plea|title=Mall of America demonstrators plead not guilty to charges|author1=Brandt Williams|date=March 10, 2015|work=MPR News|access-date=March 21, 2015}}</ref>

Plans for another Black Lives Matter demonstration at the Mall of America on December 23, 2015, prompted mall officials to file a [[restraining order]] against the movement's activists.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/12/22/mall-of-america-sues-to-stop-planned-dec-23-protest-by-black-lives-matter/|title=Mall of America sues to stop planned Dec. 23 protest by Black Lives Matter|last1=Moyer|first1=Justin Wm.|date=December 22, 2015|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> Eight individual activists were sued in Hennepin County District Court.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2015/12/21/black-lives-matter-minneapolis-8-activists-sued-by-moa/|title=Black Lives Matter Minneapolis: 8 Activists Sued By MOA|date=December 21, 2015|work=CBS Minnesota}}</ref> The mall's lawsuit would prohibit the defendants from demonstrating and require them to delete all of their posts to social media pertaining to the demonstration. The lawsuit additionally asked that the court jail Black Lives Matter activists unless they publicly announce that the demonstration is cancelled on their social media accounts. The [[American Civil Liberties Union]] of Minnesota called the mall's lawsuit an "improper prior restraint on speech" and an unconstitutional overreach.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.citypages.com/news/mall-of-america-wants-restraining-order-against-black-lives-matter-protest-7912790|title=Mall of America wants restraining order against Black Lives Matter protest|last1=Rietmulder|first1=Michael|date=December 22, 2015|work=City Pages}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mprnews.org/story/2015/12/21/mall-of-america-restraining-order-against-black-lives-matter-protest|title=Black Lives Matter vows MOA protest; judge weighs restraining order|last1=Feshir|first1=Riham|date=December 21, 2015|work=MPR News|last2=Collins|first2=Jon|last3=Cox|first3=Peter}}</ref>

=== Notable criminal incidents ===
====2019 murder attempt====
{{Main|2019 Mall of America murder attempt}}
On April 12, 2019, a five-year-old boy was thrown from the third-story balcony by 24-year-old Emmanuel Deshawn Aranda of Minneapolis, outside the [[Rainforest Cafe]], and landed near the [[Michael Kors]] store. The boy was in the hospital for over five months, but eventually recovered. Aranda was sentenced to 19 years in prison in June of that year with the possibility for parole after 12 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2019/06/03/man-who-tossed-5-year-old-from-mall-of-america-balcony-gets-19-years/|newspaper=[[New York Post]]|title=Man who tossed 5-year-old from Mall of America balcony gets 19 years|author=Jaeger, Max|date=June 3, 2019|access-date=July 19, 2020|archive-date=June 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190604074137/https://nypost.com/2019/06/03/man-who-tossed-5-year-old-from-mall-of-america-balcony-gets-19-years/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first1= Amanda|last1= Woods|access-date=2022-06-18|newspaper=[[New York Post]]|title=Landen Hoffman, boy thrown from Mall of America balcony, is home from hospital|url=https://nypost.com/2019/09/04/landen-hoffman-is-home-from-hospital-after-being-thrown-from-mall-of-america-balcony/|date=September 4, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.sctimes.com/story/news/local/2019/06/03/mall-america-attacker-gets-19-years-prison/1329061001/|title=Mall of America attacker gets 19 years in prison|work=Associated Press|agency=St. Cloud Times|date=June 3, 2019|accessdate=October 23, 2024}}</ref>

====2021 shooting====
On December 31, 2021, a single gunshot was fired on the north side of the third floor of the mall. A patrolling Bloomington Police Department officer who heard the shot immediately notified mall security, who activated the mall's lockdown alarm. Responding officers found a man who had been shot in the leg when they arrived at the scene and later another injured person was found who appeared to have been grazed by the bullet. The first victim was transported to the hospital while the second was treated on the scene by paramedics and released. According to a statement by Deputy Chief Kim Clausen, she recommended that there was an "altercation" between two men that resulted in one shooting the other. After a thorough search of the mall by police and security officers, the lockdown was lifted approximately 40 minutes after it started and the mall closed for the rest of the day shortly thereafter.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://kstp.com/news/two-people-injured-after-shooting-friday-at-mall-of-america-new-years-eve/6346741/|title=2 injured after shooting at Mall of America; police say mall secured, investigation ongoing|date=December 31, 2021|access-date=January 1, 2022}}</ref>

On January 3, 2022, an 18-year-old [[Roseville, Minnesota|Roseville]] man was identified as they left the scene of the shooting with the shooter was arrested for aiding and abetting first-degree assault,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fox9.com/news/suspect-arrested-in-connection-with-mall-of-america-shooting/|title=Teenager arrested in connection with Mall of America shooting|date=January 3, 2022|access-date=January 4, 2022}}</ref> and on January 4, police arrested the suspect on assault charges and in a subsequent search of the house found a gun.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fox9.com/news/mall-of-america-shooting-gunman-arrested-gun-recovered/|title=Mall of America shooting: Police arrest gunman, recover firearm|date=January 4, 2022|access-date=January 4, 2022}}</ref> In March, 2022, the man, Kahlil Wiley, pleaded guilty to one count of second degree assault with a dangerous weapon and was sentenced to three years and nine months. The second assault charge against him was previously dismissed.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://kstp.com/kstp-news/top-news/man-sentenced-to-nearly-4-years-in-new-years-eve-mall-of-america-shooting/|title= 
Man sentenced to nearly 4 years in New Year's Eve Mall of America shooting|last=Omastiak|first=Rebecca|agency=KSTP-TV|date=March 22, 2024|accessdate=October 23, 2024}}</ref>

====August 2022 shooting====
On August 4, 2022, the mall was put under lockdown after two men fired gunshots during an altercation at the [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]] store, then fled.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sarlsohn |first=Hannah |date=August 4, 2022 |title=Mall of America will remain closed after lockdown lifted |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/04/us/mall-of-america-active-incident/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220805010136/https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/04/us/mall-of-america-active-incident/index.html |archive-date=2022-08-05 |access-date=2022-08-04 |publisher=[[CNN]]}}</ref> Two-time [[NASCAR Cup Series]] champion [[Kyle Busch]] was in the mall with his family at the time; they were unharmed.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 5, 2022 |title=NASCAR's Ky. Busch, family escape mall shooting |url=https://www.espn.com/racing/nascar/story/_/id/34349220/nascar-driver-kyle-busch-family-escape-shooting-mall-america-minnesota |access-date=2022-08-06 |publisher=ESPN |language=en}}</ref> The two alleged shooters were apprehended a week later in Chicago. They were detained shortly after stepping out of a barbershop. Three people were also arrested for allegedly aiding the shooters as they fled the scene and hid from authorities at a nearby [[Best Western]] hotel. Two of the suspects originated from Minneapolis, while the other three originated from [[Burnsville, Minnesota|Burnsville]], all between the ages of 21 and 23.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 11, 2022 |title=Men wanted in Mall of America shooting arrested in Chicago area |publisher=[[KMSP-TV]] |url=https://www.fox9.com/news/men-wanted-in-mall-of-america-shooting-arrested-in-chicago-area |access-date=2022-08-11}}</ref>

====December 2022 fatal shooting====
On December 23, 2022, the mall was placed under lockdown after a "long-standing feud" led to the fatal shooting of a 19-year old male inside the [[Nordstrom]] department store.<ref name="Furst">{{Cite news |last=Furst |first=Randy |date=2022-12-24 |title=One dead in shooting at Mall of America |work=[[Star Tribune]] |url=https://www.startribune.com/bloomington-police-confirm-shooting-at-mall-of-america/600238426/ |access-date=2022-12-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last = Reeve | first = Richard | date = December 25, 2022 | title = Man recalls when he heard shots fired inside Mall of America, police arrest 5 suspects | url = https://kstp.com/kstp-news/local-news/prosecutors-decline-charges-against-deputies-who-fatally-shot-otsego-man/?cat=5 | work = KSTP}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last = Olson S | first = Rochelle | date = December 25, 2022 | title = Mall of America shooting victim identified as Johntae Hudson of St. Paul | url = https://www.startribune.com/mall-of-america-shooting-victim-identified-as-johntae-hudson-of-st-paul/600238636/ | work = Star Tribune}}</ref> A bullet grazed a bystander's clothing resulting in only minor injuries.<ref name="Furst"/> Two teenagers, TaeShawn Adams-Wright and Lavon Longstreet, were later convicted of second degree-murder and second-degree assault for the shooting. Both were sentenced in 2024 to 30 years and seven months in prison.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.kare11.com/article/news/crime/second-defendant-sentenced-mall-of-america-shooting/89-d54a138d-b141-4dce-b8b3-3fe78ce61dd4|title=Second man sentenced to 30 years in deadly Mall of America shooting|last=Griswold|first=David|agency=KARE|date=June 10, 2024|accessdate=October 23, 2024}}</ref>