Mall fights break out across the U.S. a day after Christmas

At least 15 fights reportedly broke out in malls across the U.S. the day after Christmas. The chaos resulted in the early closure of several malls and prevented some shoppers from searching for post-holiday deals and using their new gift cards.

The disturbances ranged from minor melees to mass evacuations. By night's end, 15 fights were reported in shopping centers from Connecticut to Arizona. Several police departments are speculating that the incidents were loosely organized on social media, The New York Times reported.

In Aurora, Colorado, The police got an anonymous tip that a Facebook post announced a fight at the Town Center mall.

"We haven't actually seen the post," said Sgt. Chris Amsler, a spokesman for the Aurora Police Department. "We don't know whether that's true — whether or not that exists," he added.

He said that about a 100 people were gathered at the food court just before the brawls, according to CNN. The off-duty police officers who tried to break up the fight were encircled by the people, prompting them to call for backup. Amsler estimated that 500 people were involved, and one person sustained "significant" injuries.

In Manchester, Connecticut, The Shoppes at Buckland Hills was forced to close early after it was mobbed by hundreds of teenagers. Capt. Christopher Davis, a spokesman for the Manchester police, said that so many teenagers arrived at the mall that they had to call additional city buses to take them all home. Five juveniles and two adults were detained for either fighting or interfering with police officers.

"Even the officers that were up there sensed that something was different," said Davis. "They just sensed that something was in the air, per se, that something didn't seem right," he added.

At the Hamilton Place Mall in Chattanooga, Tennesee, police rushed to the scene after receiving reports of "shots fired," but it turned out to be fireworks.

In Fort Worth, Texas, the Hulen Mall was placed on lockdown after police responded to a report of gunfire inside the establishment. The police broke up a series of fights involving at least 100 people.

Some police officers said that the incidents bear similarities to flash mobs, gatherings that are loosely coordinated on social media. Some have also speculated that the unusually warm weather in some places may have played a role.