DANVERS — Four teens are facing charges after what police believe may be a gang-related fight in the Liberty Tree Mall food court crowded with holiday shoppers Thursday night.
One of the four teens was injured when he was struck in the face with a hammer, one of two weapons confiscated by mall security during the fight. The other weapon was a 15-inch wrench.
Arrested were Anthony Landry, 17, of Lynn, on charges of disorderly conduct and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (the wrench); Anthony Todisco, 20, of Lynn, on charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (the hammer), disorderly conduct and illegal possession of a knife; and Hector Pena, 17, of 12 Pope St., Salem, and Katelyn Hartford, 17, of Revere, both on charges of disorderly conduct.
Danvers police Sgt. David Joyce said that every available officer on duty went to the mall in response to a call from mall security around 9 p.m. The mall was crowded with holiday shoppers, Joyce said.
Todisco and Pena were still yelling at each other when police arrived. Landry was holding a wrench, said the officer, and Todisco had been holding a hammer, Joyce said.
Pena, who was struck in the face, said Todisco started the fight when he pulled up his shirt and pointed to a blue bandanna, believed to signify his ties to a gang. Pena told police he was jumped by Todisco, police said.
Landry and Todisco were held overnight on $250 cash bail, an amount both were expected to post yesterday afternoon shortly after their arraignment in Salem District Court.
Pena and Hartford were released on personal surety bonds.
All four have been ordered to stay away from the mall and any witnesses. Hartford, who works at the movie theater inside the mall, was ordered to stay within the theater and not enter any of the shopping areas while the charges are pending.
Judge Robert Cornetta, expressing concern about the crowds of shoppers who witnessed the incident, ordered that if any of the four are caught violating his order to stay away from the mall, they will be held without bail until their next court appearance.
A pretrial hearing was scheduled for Feb. 6.
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