Three men were arrested in Chandler after a confrontation in a mall food court where guns were drawn, police said
Three Men Arrested After Gun Incident at Chandler Mall
CHANDLER, Ariz. – A confrontation involving guns in the food court of an East Valley mall led to the arrests of three men.
Chandler Police say officers on Jan. 5 responded to Chandler Fashion Center at around 8:45 p.m. for reports of two men threatening another man with guns near the food court.
When officers arrived at the mall, they found all three suspects arguing inside a store. Two of the suspects, 22-year-old Jeremiah Bagby and 19-year-old Jalen Bails-Bacchus, were armed and arrested, police said.
Investigators say officers determined that another man, 53-year-old John Lathrop, threatened Bagby and Bails-Bacchus before trying to hit them.
“During this altercation is when the two younger adults pulled out guns and pointed them at Lathrop,” said Ryan Cody, a spokesperson with Chandler Police. “They then followed Lathrop into the food court area while yelling threats and pointing their weapons at the back of his head. This prompted bystanders to call 911 and alert police of the incident.”
No one was hurt during the incident.
Lathrop was later found at his home and arrested. He’s accused of making threats and disorderly conduct.
Bagby and Bails-Bacchus are accused of multiple charges, including aggravated assault, disorderly conduct, and concealing a deadly weapon.
“During a search at the holding facility, both young adults were found to be in possession of a suspected dangerous drug and related charges were submitted,” police added.
Police say there is no known threat to the public and the investigation is ongoing.
| Suspect | Age | Charges |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah Bagby | 22 | Aggravated assault, disorderly conduct, concealing a deadly weapon |
| Jalen Bails-Bacchus | 19 | Aggravated assault, disorderly conduct, concealing a deadly weapon |
| John Lathrop | 53 | Making threats, disorderly conduct |
