TEENS WITH GUNS. “BAD NEIGHBORHOOD OF LUXURY MALLS.” READ SATURDAY’S POLICE REPORT.
In 14 Months: Threat Leads To Lockdown; Pepper Spray Attack; Strong Arm Robbery, More…
BY: ANDREW COLTON | Editor and Publisher | BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2025 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — Boca Raton Town Center Mall is considered by many to be the “bad neighborhood” of “luxury” malls, and Simon Property Group (NYSE:SPG) — the mall’s owner — continues to do nothing about it. The latest incident — a reported shooting Saturday afternoon that resulted in the arrest of a teen with a gun — left three people injured and thousands fleeing. Boca Raton Police tell BocaNewsNow.com that Saturday’s incident wasn’t actually a shooting but a fight. Witnesses, however, say there “absolutely” were shots fired near the food court. We are publishing the complete police report, below.
The Saturday incident — gunfire or not — is the latest incident for the mall where frequent shoppers say teen gangs roam unfettered as security guards look the other way. The mall is private property and responsible for its own security — leaving police to respond after incidents take place. And there have been many incidents in the past fourteen months.
On Saturday, November 29, 2025: Three people were injured, including an elderly woman, when thousands fled the mall following what several describe as the sounds of gunfire near the food court. Police say there were no shots fired but that the incident was a fight. As the alleged perpetrators approached teen Santos Figueroa Alvarenga of Boca Raton, Alvarenga allegedly displayed a gun in his waistband. Police say no shots were fired. The injured suffered non-life threatening injuries as they fled. Alvarenga was arrested on a gun charge.
On Friday, November 28th, an incident we did not initially believe merited reporting: several shoppers fled the mall amidst reports of gunfire. The reports were immediately disproven but that was little consolation to those who feared for their lives.
In December of 2024, a woman was pepper sprayed in the parking lot as she was robbed of her purchases.
In September of 2024, the mall was locked down for hours when a social media “hoax” led shoppers and police to believe the mall was under attack by a group of people with automatic weapons. Many shoppers say they were locked in closets for hours while misinformation spread online. Many who experienced the incident say they feared they were going to die.
And also in September of 2024, a strong arm robbery was reported as a man allegedly tried to pull a purse off of a woman in the mall’s parking lot. The suspect fled and was never captured. Read all of our previous Boca Raton Town Center Mall reporting here.
These are the incidents that led to multi-day news reporting. Many do not, including the continued parade of animals in the mall that leave their excrement behind for other shoppers of this “Luxury Mall” to circumnavigate.
Simon Property Group removed its local marketing and public relations employees earlier this year and continues to seek replacements. The company has not issued a statement regarding Friday and Saturday’s incidents at Boca Raton Town Center Mall as of Monday morning. There has not even been a public “thank you” to Boca Raton Police and Boca Raton Fire Rescue — all on the scene minutes after calls for help were received by the city’s communications center.
BocaNewsNow.com obtained the complete police report from Saturday’s incident. We are publishing it in its entirety:
“I responded to 6000 W Glades Road (Boca Raton Town Center Mall) in reference to reports of a fight involving a large group of individuals and shots fired in the vicinity of the food court. Upon arrival, I observed Santos Figueroa Alvarenga detained by officers adjacent to the Karma and Luck storefront. Ofc. Levine advised me that he detained Santos upon initial response to the disturbance based on Town Center staff pointing Santos out as a participant of the fight.
Ofc. Levine stated that when he arrived at the food court, several individuals were running from the scene and members of Town Center Staff pointed Santos out, stating that he was involved. Ofc. Levine observed that Santos was being held by a staff member. Due to totality of the circumstances, Ofc. Levine detained Santos. Ofc. Fong advised me that a loaded 9mm Glock 19 was found in Santos waistband after he was detained. Santos informed Ofc. Fong that he possessed a firearm.
Ofc. Fong located the weapon on Santos’ person and retrieved it. I then obtained a statement from Santos. Santos was read his Miranda Rights by apprehending officers. I asked Santos if he wished to speak with me about the incident and he agreed. He stated that he was at the mall with his family but standing separated from them at the food court when he witnessed a fight that was in progress adjacent to Chick-Fil-A. Santos advised that he only watched the fight unfold and was subsequently approached by 3 aggressors looking to harm him.
Santos stated that he was then in fear for his safety lifted his shift to display the Glock located in his left waistband. The altercation then disbanded, and Santos stated he walked away and was then apprehended by Ofc. Levine. Due to the totality of the circumstances and Santos’ statements, he is charged with possession of a concealed weapon under the age of 21 pursuant to F. S. S. 790.01 (3) .”
Alvarenga was released on bond several hours after his arrest. It’s unclear if Boca PD is attempting to locate the people who he claims threatened him.
If you are planning to shop at Boca Raton Town Center Mall, BocaNewsNow.com encourages you to shop quickly, be aware of your surroundings, and always note your closest exits.
