An assault inside a Baltimore County mall led to the arrest of four juveniles Saturday night and attempted murder charges against one of the teens who allegedly used a screwdriver in a stabbing, police said. 

Baltimore County police said the juveniles, between 14 and 17 years old, were arrested after the incident at Towson Town Center. Three of the teens were released to their parents, according to police.

On Monday, the 15-year-old — who was charged as an adult with attempted murder, assault, armed robbery and theft — was ordered to be held without bond at the Baltimore County Detention Center, court officials said. 

Testimony during the court hearing revealed that the teen allegedly hit the victim in the head twice.  

Initial call for stabbing 

Police responded to the mall around 8 p.m. Saturday for a reported stabbing. 

According to the dispatch audio WJZ Investigates reviewed, it happened outside a shoe store on Towson Town Center's second floor. 

Officers later arrested four teenagers at Dulaney Valley Road and Fairmount Avenue. 

Authorities described the incident as an assault and robbery and said they later recovered stolen items. 

Shopper reaction 

Most shoppers WJZ spoke to said they continue to feel safe at the mall, but expressed dismay and sadness at the violence. 

"I think it's a tragedy that people feel like they have to resort to violence if they have a dispute with somebody," said one longtime shopper who declined to give her name.

"They just need more stuff to do. I don't know what you can do to resolve a situation. You don't have to resort to violence," said Jeremiah Weddy. "It's just so crazy. Why would you go into the mall and do that?"

Isabel, who declined to give her last name, called the violence "heartbreaking."

"All you can do is like pray for the families of everyone and really hope that everyone can turn their lives around from such a violent incident," she said. 

Curfew and past incidents 

Saturday night's violence follows other high-profile incidents in recent years involving groups of unruly juveniles. 

Last month, a woman was critically injured during a domestic-related stabbing in the parking lot of Towson Town Center.

Towson Town Center has implemented a curfew after 4 pm on Friday and Saturday in the mall — unless those 17 and younger are accompanied by an adult. 

You can read more about the mall's parental guidance policy here.     

Juvenile crime in Maryland

After a steep increase in 2024, crime is now trending down in Towson, according to police data.

In 2023, there were 515 victims of assault in Towson, with the most cases being reported in December.

In 2024, there were 537 victims of assaults in Towson, and so far in 2025, there have been 379 victims of reported assaults in the 21286 area code.

Theft offenses account for the most reported crimes in Towson, with 729 victims so far in 2025.

However, juvenile crime has been a topic of discussion in the Baltimore area over the last couple of years.

Between 2023 and 2024, juvenile crime arrests increased by 146% in Baltimore, according to State's Attorney Ivan Bates.

This time last year, Bates stopped by WJZ to discuss his effort to hold young offenders accountable.

"We have more of a checks and balances of what's going on with DJS," Bates said. "We are having more communication and dialogue on how to hold young people accountable."

Last month, in October, three teens were arrested in Baltimore for their role in 14 burglaries across the city.