San Mateo: Four teenagers arrested for shooting at mall

SAN MATEO — Four 16-year-olds were in juvenile detention on Thursday after their arrest in connection with the mall shooting, authorities said.

A police statement said officers arrived at 60 31st Ave. Hillsdale Mall at 5:34 p.m. Wednesday after receiving calls reporting a shooting.

When employees arrived, they were directed to the store’s parking lot, where a 20-year-old man with a gunshot wound was surrounded by passers-by.

Taking emergency life-saving measures, the officers dispersed the crowd so that paramedics could take him to the hospital, where he was later indicated to be in a critical but stable condition and expected to survive.

Investigators soon learned that several people had fled the parking lot immediately after the shooting and worked with witnesses to gather information, including security footage from the mall that helped detectives identify the suspects.

Police said four teenagers were arrested Thursday and were being held at the Hillcrest Juvenile Correctional Facility on suspicion of assault with a firearm, attempted robbery and conspiracy to commit a crime.

Shortly thereafter, detectives joined Belmont’s cops and deputies from the County Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force and Gang Intelligence Unit to serve warrants at multiple addresses, providing evidence of the shooting.

While police said there is no ongoing threat to the public, investigators are still looking for other possible suspects and related crimes.