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Shots fired outside Palm Beach Outlets; several stores damaged

Geek Squad van set on fire in Best Buy parking lot; other businesses ransacked
Posted at 10:42 PM, May 31, 2020
and last updated 2020-06-01 09:35:25-04

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Shots were fired at the Palm Beach Outlets and several stores at the West Palm Beach outlet mall were damaged by looters Sunday night after a day of protests in response to the death of George Floyd.

West Palm Beach police were blocking the Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard entrance to the mall, where the glass storefronts of several businesses were shattered.

Police were seen helping employees try to safely leave the stores.

WPTV NewsChannel 5 reporter Ryan Hughes said rocks were thrown at police officers.

Windows to the Target store across the street were also smashed.

Shattered glass at Target
Shattered glass at the Target on Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard is evidence of the damage left behind by protesters, May 31, 2020, in West Palm Beach, Fla.

A Geek Squad van was set on fire in the parking lot of the Best Buy just east of Interstate 95, where protesters marched hours earlier.

After protests, Geek Squad van catches fire outside Best Buy

A nearby liquor store and beauty supply store were also ransacked.

Storefront of beauty supply store damaged in West Palm Beach
The storefront of this beauty supply store was shattered, exposing the damage left by looters, May 31, 2020, in West Palm Beach, Fla.

Several miles away, a Walmart at the corner of Forest Hill Boulevard and Jog Road was raided by looters.

Walmart at Forest Hill Boulevard and Jog Road ransacked by looters
Looters stormed a Walmart at Forest Hill Boulevard and Jog Road, trashing the store.

An employee told Hughes that 40 or 50 people rushed inside the store, stealing electronics and knocking over displays.

Electronics display shelf toppled over during looting at Walmart
This display shelf inside a Walmart at Forest Hill Boulevard and Jog Road is toppled over after 40 to 50 people raided the store, stealing electronics.

Looters also ransacked a T-Mobile store in Royal Palm Beach early Sunday.

The escalating incidents prompted West Palm Beach Mayor Keith James to issue a citywide curfew from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.

No serious injuries have been reported.