Two teenagers stabbed at Redondo Beach Galleria, in surgery

The South Bay Galleria was eerily deserted Saturday evening, after police contained the shopping center to search for a suspect in a stabbing incident involving two victims aged under 18. Photo by Rachel Reeves

Two minors were stabbed outside AMC 16 on the third level of the South Bay Galleria at about 7 p.m. on Saturday. Both were rushed to a local hospital for emergency surgery.

So far police have no motive, no witnesses and only a vague suspect description, according to  Redondo Beach Police Department Sgt. Shawn Freeman. He said police believe the suspect to be a “black male.”

At 7:23 p.m. RBPD received a call about a stabbing at the Galleria. When police and paramedics arrived on the scene, a male and a female – both under the age of 18 – were lying unconscious on the ground.

Sgt. Freeman says no bystanders witnessed the actual stabbing, but that several reported seeing the victims “collapse” onto the ground.

Torrance police officers came to Redondo Beach Police Department’s aid and helped to search cars leaving the South Bay Galleria following a stabbing incident on Saturday night. Photo by Rachel Reeves

“All we really know is that two people collapsed, and that they appear to have been stabbed,” Freeman said.

Some eyewitnesses indicated they were under the impression the victims had fainted.

Both appeared to have hit their heads on the ground and were bleeding when paramedics arrived.

Freeman says police did not enforce a lockdown or evacuate the Galleria but immediately “contained the mall,” dispatching officers to all exits. Police searched people exiting the movie theater and cars leaving the shopping center.

Sergeant Freeman says detectives are currently reviewing video surveillance footage and canvassing nearby properties to obtain further details.

He has asked anyone with any information or anyone who may have witnessed an altercation outside the AMC theater on Saturday night to call (310) 379-2477.