Destiny USA shooting: Syracuse Police respond to weapon reports - here's what happened

The Syracuse Police Department said that officers responded to reports of a person with a weapon at Destiny USA on Thursday.

Updated on: Aug 29, 2025, 02:39:49 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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The Syracuse Police Department said that officers responded to reports of a person with a weapon at Destiny USA on Thursday. However, after preliminary investigation, they determined that the ‘person in question’ did not have a weapon.

Officers responded to a call at Destiny USA in Syracuse on Thursday (Unsplash)

Several police vehicles were seen outside the mall around 4:40 PM local time. The department said that there is no threat to public and Destiny USA remains open.

“SPD responded to a report of a person with a weapon in the area of Destiny USA. After a preliminary investigation, it has been determined that the person in question did not possess a weapon. There is no threat to the public, and Destiny USA is open to the public,” the police department noted on X, platform formerly known as Twitter.

Panicked locals posted about the situation at Destiny USA. “Active shooter at Destiny USA Mall in New York....” one person tweeted.

Destiny USA is a massive six-story shopping and entertainment complex in Syracuse, New York. It’s the largest mall in New York State and among the biggest in the United States. Originally opened in 1990 as Carousel Center, it was later expanded and rebranded as Destiny USA in 2012.

The complex combines retail stores with outlet shops, restaurants, a movie theater, comedy club, indoor go-karting, ropes courses, escape rooms, and other attractions.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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