17-Year-Old Gang Member on Probation Arrested in San Jose Mall Shooting Injuring Three

San Jose police have arrested a 17-year-old male, identified as a violent gang member already on juvenile probation, in connection with the Black Friday shooting at Westfield Valley Fair Mall that injured three people. The incident, which occurred on November 28, 2025, sent thousands of holiday shoppers fleeing for safety.

The shooting took place around 5:40 PM, injuring an adult male, an adult female, and a 16-year-old girl, all sustaining non-life-threatening wounds. Authorities swiftly responded, locking down and evacuating the busy mall, which is located on the border of San Jose and Santa Clara. Police confirmed the incident was isolated and not an active shooter event.

San Jose Police Chief Paul Joseph announced the arrest of the juvenile suspect on December 1. According to a social media post by Kevin Dalton, the arrested individual was "a 17-year-old boy on juvenile probation and a violent gang member." Chief Joseph expressed concerns about the current legal framework, stating, "Our officers have a limited ability to prevent this kind of juvenile violence when our juvenile laws are so weak." He added that "young offenders feel almost no fear of consequences."

Preliminary investigations indicate the shooting was gang-motivated, stemming from an altercation between the suspect and another individual, with the two female victims struck by stray gunfire. The event caused widespread panic among shoppers, prompting local residents to open their homes to those seeking refuge. San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan acknowledged the community's distress, stating, "This is not the news I wanted to share with you this holiday weekend."

The tweet by Kevin Dalton further claimed that "both mass shootings over the holiday weekend in Gavin Newsom’s lawless California were gang related," and attributed the situation to "garbage progressive policies." While the San Jose incident has been confirmed as gang-related, information regarding a second mass shooting over the same holiday weekend in California could not be immediately corroborated by available reports. Police have increased patrols at the Valley Fair Mall following the incident.