Authorities said two people were transported to the hospital with minor injuries after a fight at the Lauderhill Mall Tuesday.
Hundreds of people, mostly teens, swarmed the mall at 1267 NW 40th Ave. and created a chaotic scene, and police from Lauderhill, Plantation and Sunrise as well as the Broward Sheriff's Office responded to break up the crowd.
Lauderhill Police Lt. Mike Butkus said the incident was the result of a social media message.
"What that message was, we don't know. Essentially that's what was used and we believe it was to fight somewhere in the mall, over what, we do not know," Butkus said.
The power and reach of social media was evident as police estimate 200-300 kids showed up. Some of them made it inside the mall, where police quickly broke up fights.
One of the two people hurt was taken to the hospital for treatment for a punch to the head, according to police.
While police and heavily armed SWAT members helped disperse the crowd, a young man who wanted to be called "D" explained to NBC 6 that he heard it started with two girls fighting. Others showed up to settle a "beef" or argument with other kids.
"Whatever pressure you had against anybody, you had to come out today," D said.
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While police made no arrests, they didn't take any chances of amped-up teens sparking a new brawl. Two officers remained on scene to show a presence into the night.
