Dayton Mall Shuts Down due to Wall Collapse
800 views · Published 30 June 2012 · 1:54 · Indexed 10 November 2026
Channel: Dayton 24/7 Now · 2012 · News & Politics
MIAMI TOWNSHIP -- It was a� scary day for employees and customers shopping in the Dayton mall. A construction wall in front of Sears fell down. The wall was covering up what is soon to be the Dicks' Sporting Goods store."The lights went out and we looked up and saw it was raining and we heard a noise and we looked over to our right and the walls had exploded into the mall," said Kathy Shekleton who was in town visiting from Connecticut and got quite the welcome."Lights were going off, they were shutting gates so you couldn't� get into stores," she said.A beam from outside� was holding up the wall. when the gusts of wind hit the beam it knocked down the wall sending dust and debris through the hallways of the mall. Witnesses described the scene as chaotic. They say everyone was running away from the wall screaming."There was sheet rock, dust, and the noise, stuff flying everywhere, wind blowing and we just grabbed kids and ran," said Shekleton."This is a new one for me," said Miami Twp. Chief Dep. John Dipietro. "I was at the police department when it happened, just a tremendous gust of wind, I've never seen anything like that."Mall Security and police shut down the mall and told everyone to leave, only problem is the storm that knocked down the wall was still going on."We had a six month old a five year old and a six year old plus five adults and they said we had to leave and we looked outside and there was torrential rains lightning and winds blowing and they said you need to evacuate and they said it's not safe. Eventually the storm died down and the mall was evacuated.� Macy's was the only store to reopen, they did warn their customers of the dirt still on the ground. Still, employees admit they won't forget today's trip to the mall."It's scary, mall employee Chelcie� Hinders said. "Stuff like that would be in a movie, not in real life.""We were scared to death, I'm still shaking right now," said Shekleton. "I called our son in Connecticut I was on the phone crying. I said we're here in the mall, the wall has fallen."It was so crazy In fact, employees at the Sunglass Hut told us they had to leave the mall so quickly they didn't get a chance to close up shop, leaving their lights and music playing.The picture your looking out now is from the aftermath, after mall security and police completely evacuated the mall.If you plan on coming to the Dayton Mall Saturday, give the store you're going to a call before you come. They hope to at least have all the dust and debris cleaned up even if the wall has not been fixed. Wale Aliyu Reports
