Teen Arrested After Food Court Scare at Town Center Mall, Police Say

UPDATE

NEW DETAILS: Teen Arrested With Loaded Glock At Boca Town Center Mall

UPDATE

While the arrest affidavit is still being processed by the Palm Beach County courts, we do now have the suspect’s booking photo, seen below.

Boca Raton Police have not provided any update on the other suspects who fled the scene.

Originally reported by Boca Post

BOCA RATON, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2025) — Boca Raton Police say an 18-year-old from Boynton Beach was arrested Saturday afternoon after a fight inside the Town Center at Boca Raton prompted reports of possible shots fired, though investigators later found no evidence that a shooting occurred.

That is when social media erupted with reports of a shooting at the mall. Many scared shoppers and residents were alerted by major news carriers who pushed out vague notifications about an “shooting incident” at the Boca Raton Town Center Mall. Then, no details followed.

Late on Saturday night, Boca Raton Police told Boca Post that there is no evidence that a shooting occurred; however, they did arrest someone for the incident.

Officers were already inside the mall when the call came in around 2:30 p.m., according to a statement from the department’s Public Information Office. Police headed straight to the food court and made contact with one person involved, identified as Santos Figueroa Alvarenga, 18.

The other people tied to the disturbance had already left the area.

Alvarenga told officers he had been at the food court with relatives but was standing a short distance away when a fight broke out between several unknown males. He said he watched the confrontation unfold until three of the males suddenly broke off and walked toward him “aggressively,” the department said .

Feeling threatened, Alvarenga said he lifted his shirt to show a firearm tucked in his waistband. He told police he never pulled the gun out and never fired it. Mall staff stepped in, and the three individuals ran from the area.

Detectives reviewed surveillance video and determined that no shots were fired during the incident, according to the department’s statement.

Alvarenga was arrested on a charge of Possession of a Concealed Weapon Under the Age of 21 and transported to the Palm Beach County Jail .

No injuries were reported, and police did not identify the individuals who fled.

Developing Story

Check back here for updates. We will update this story when more information becomes available.