Panic erupted at a Jefferson Avenue strip mall when a 15-year-old pulled a knife during a fight. Shoppers ran, but off-duty Officer Derek Hall, there with his family, stepped in. After ordering the teen to drop the weapon and drawing his gun when the boy refused, Hall convinced him to surrender safely.
The teen now faces several charges, and police say the clash stemmed from an ongoing dispute. Locals praised Hall’s quick action, while community leaders called the incident a reminder of the need for better support and conflict resolution for teens.