Seven arrested, including three juveniles, after fight and reported shot fired at Willowbrook Mall, police say
WAYNE TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Passaic County) — Seven people, including three juveniles, were arrested following a fight and a reported shot fired at Willowbrook Mall last month that prompted a large police response and evacuation of the shopping center, authorities said.
Wayne police said officers were dispatched at about 7:03 p.m. Dec. 30, 2025, to reports of a fight and a shot fired in the mall’s food court. When officers arrived, they encountered what police described as a chaotic scene, with numerous people fleeing the area.
According to police, a witness identified three males who were involved in the altercation. Officers detained the three and used surveillance video to confirm they were involved in the fight that led to the reported gunshot. Those suspects — two adults and one juvenile — were arrested at the scene. Three other suspects involved in the incident, including the individual believed to have fired the shot, fled and were not located that night.
Multiple law enforcement agencies assisted in evacuating and securing the mall, including the Wayne Police Investigative Division, the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, Paterson Police, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Police said hours of surveillance review, witness interviews and additional investigative work over the following days led to the identification of the remaining suspects.
In the early morning hours of Jan. 9, 2026, Wayne police, assisted by Paterson Police SWAT and Emergency Response teams, the FBI, Winslow Township Police and the Camden County Sheriff’s Office Special Enforcement Response Team, executed search warrants at multiple locations in Paterson and one in Winslow Township. The searches resulted in the arrests of the three outstanding suspects connected to the mall incident, as well as one additional arrest. A stolen handgun was also recovered, police said.
Those arrested include Ashir Walker, 18, of Paterson, and Kashjeme Powell, 18, of Paterson, each charged with inciting a public brawl, disorderly conduct and simple assault. A 17-year-old juvenile from Paterson was charged with the same offenses.
Additional arrests made Jan. 9 include Wilhelmina Kelson, 62, of Paterson, who was charged with hindering apprehension.
Two other 17-year-old juveniles from Paterson were charged with multiple offenses, including riot involving a firearm, unlawful possession of a handgun, possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose and risking widespread injury. One of the juveniles also faces charges of tampering with evidence and possession of a large-capacity magazine.
Kayson N. McCaskill, 18, of Paterson, was charged with multiple offenses, including inciting a public brawl, simple assault, riot involving a firearm, unlawful possession of a handgun, receiving stolen property and possession of a large-capacity magazine, authorities said.
