SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — A social media flyer and TikToks advertising a “teen takeover” at Battlefield Mall sparked concern and a police presence this week, but the three local high school students behind it said their goal was never to cause trouble.
As soon as they parked at the mall for the takeover earlier today, a police officer approached them, the teenage organizers said.
A Springfield Police Department spokesman told Ozarks First that as of 2 p.m. Saturday, July 25, there had been no reported issues at the mall, but police were aware ahead of the unauthorized Saturday takeover. The large gathering promoted online ultimately did not happen.
The organizers — Chase, Jay and Jesse — were later invited to the Ozarks First newsroom to explain what they had planned and why they believed the event gained so much attention…