‘I don’t feel safe.’ Security of Fayette Mall questioned after man charged over gunfire, fight
A man has been charged with three counts of wanton endangerment and various drug offenses after a fight led to gunfire outside Fayette Mall Monday night.
Kristopher James, 26, of Lexington was charged Tuesday with buying/possessing drug paraphernalia, trafficking marijuana and trafficking a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school. Lexington police later announced that the additional wanton endangerment counts were added.
The incident along with others led some mall employees or customers to suggest on social media that Fayette Mall needs better security. Others said they no longer feel safe going to the mall. To avoid compromising security, mall personnel declined Tuesday to provide details about how the mall protects customers and employees.
James and another person were fighting over a handgun when a shot was fired outside P.F. Chang’s at the mall Monday night around 7 p.m., police said.
A bystander, an off-duty corrections officer, intervened and secured the firearm, police said in a statement.
James suffered a hand injury in the fight, police said. Police spokesperson Brenna Angel said police do not think he was injured by gunfire. James’ photo shows bruising to the face, potentially from the fight.
James has been placed in the Fayette County Detention Center. Additional charges are pending, police said.
The Fayette Mall released a statement just before 8 p.m. Monday saying that stores were operating normally and that there was no threat to shoppers.
Monday’s fight and shooting follow a January incident in which about 30 unruly kids caused an uproar in Macy’s, a robbery of a customer at gunpoint inside the Vengeance store in September 2017 and a shooting in the mall parking lot in July 2017.
“All of my life as a shopping girl, I have loved the Fayette Mall,” wrote Michelle Shadoan. “Now I don’t feel safe going or taking my son, family or friends there.”
Sarah Enlow, the mall’s marketing director, said the mall’s security measures are not discussed publicly.
“We maintain a professional security team in order to provide our customers, retail partners and employees with a comfortable and convenient shopping environment,” Enlow said in a statement. “In addition, we maintain an excellent relationship with the Lexington Police Department. We don’t share details about our security program and operational procedures because doing so would compromise the integrity of our efforts.”
This story was originally published October 23, 2018 at 9:53 AM.