For many people in Missouri and across the country, the day after Thanksgiving — Black Friday — is a day to take advantage of deals at retail stores. Large crowds at stores that offer significant enticements in combination with a limit on the number of products sold at a certain price can lead to conflict. However, the reason for a recent altercation at a mall is unclear even though two teenagers were arrested and charged with assault.
Police reportedly responded to the disturbance around 4 p.m. A news crew at the scene claimed that there was a large police presence. According to reports, “a large group of people” were involved in a fight.
Two females, a 17-year-old and 18-year-old, were taken into custody. Both are charged with felony assault. Police gave other people at the scene citations for misdemeanor assault and released them. Despite the report of felony charges filed, many details regarding the incident are unclear, including what caused the conflict and why the two teenagers were charged with felonies while others were only given citations.
Unfortunately, now the two young women are facing several, potentially life-changing decisions as a result of the assault charges that they face. In most cases, even adults in Missouri are unsure how to proceed when faced with such charges; this is likely especially the case of teenagers. Fortunately, there are experienced professionals who can help the two young girls understand their legal options and choose the path that is most appropriate for their individual circumstances.