Syracuse, N.Y. (NCC News)– There have been three separate incidents involving a gun at Destiny USA in the past month. In one of them, Syracuse Men’s Basketball Head Coach Jim Boeheim’s wife, Juli, was held at gunpoint in a parking lot and robbed.
Ryan Lindblom and his friends planned to bowl at APEX one night, but a two-hour wait altered their plans and sent them to Chili’s. 10 minutes later, they got word of an incident.
“I think you have to keep it in perspective,” Lindblom said. “It was most important that I was with people that I’m close with.”
Many citizens are scared to return to the mall because of the shootings. However, Riley Wall, from Rochester, said it’s an unfortunate part of life.
“It’s just one of those things that you know there’s a risk when you go someplace but that could be anywhere,” Wall said. “It’s been proven a safe place in years past, so I think we will return shortly. We’re just conscious that something could happen, but you can’t always live your life in fear.”
There are more than 200 places to visit at Destiny USA, including an Apple Store, a movie theater, and a go-kart track. It is meant to be a place to have fun, despite the threat of gun violence on everyone’s conscious.