SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – A few students said they don’t feel safe after hearing about and experiencing the past weeks’ events at Destiny USA Mall.
David Heiman, a senior at SU, said he will not be returning to Destiny Mall anytime soon because he said it is not worth the risk.
“After what happened to Juli Boeheim and other reports of the robberies around there, it’s definitely not worth the experience there even if there is good entertainment and food value there,” Heiman said.
On Tuesday afternoon Juli Boeheim was robbed at gunpoint in the parking lot outside the Cheesecake Factory.
More recently, at approximately 6:58 p.m. on Saturday, at least one gunshot was reported inside the mall. At the time of the event, a few Syracuse University students were inside the mall and were directed out of the building by security.
Zach Miller was dining at Koto Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi when the gunshot went off Saturday evening.
“After a few seconds, we heard someone scream that there was a shooter outside, so we immediately started panicking. We ducked under the table and each started huddling,” Miller said. “When we were all just sitting under the table it was pure silence and I thought there’s a chance that could be my last moment.”
Derek Goldberg, a senior at Syracuse University who also was at the mall during the incident, said that he was apprehensive to return to Destiny.
“In the crazy world that we’re in and with all these things happening, it definitely does make you think twice,” Goldberg said.
Alex Kunyanskyy, a business owner of custom tee shirts and jewelry, has worked at Destiny Mall for five years. Kunyanskyy said the mall security and police officers are good security and help a lot of people on a daily basis.
“There’s been a lot more police presence,” Kunyanskyy said. “They have been hiring a lot more security officers for all times.”
The investigation is still ongoing, and no arrests have been made for both of the incidents.
