Panic erupted at Ontario Mills Mall Friday morning as a man allegedly ignited a series of fires within the bustling shopping center, triggering a complete evacuation. Shoppers and employees fled for safety as flames began to spread, turning an ordinary day into a scene of chaos and fear.
The unfolding drama was captured by stunned witnesses on their phones, quickly circulating across social media. Reports flooded in to Ontario Police around 10:30 a.m. describing a man seen deliberately setting fires while carrying a lighter and a backpack.
The suspect, identified as 28-year-old Luis Javier Gallegos Jr., reportedly targeted multiple stores, including the True Religion outlet and Nordstrom Rack. Witnesses described a brazen and unsettling act as he moved through the mall, igniting blazes with alarming speed.
Police swiftly located Gallegos inside the True Religion store, where flames were already visible. Dramatic footage shows officers confronting the suspect, ultimately taking him into custody after he refused to cooperate with their commands.
The confrontation wasn’t without cost. One officer sustained non-life-threatening injuries during the arrest and required treatment at a local hospital. Gallegos himself was also injured and transported for medical evaluation.
Following the arrest, explosive detection K-9 teams meticulously swept the entire mall as a precautionary measure, ensuring no further threats remained hidden. Fire crews worked quickly to extinguish the fires, thankfully reporting no injuries to shoppers or mall staff.
The mall remained closed for the remainder of the day, a stark reminder of the unsettling events that had transpired. Investigators are currently working to determine a motive for the fires, but have yet to release any information.
This incident occurs just days after another significant arson investigation was launched in Ontario, involving a large warehouse fire. While both cases involve arson, authorities have not yet established any connection between the two incidents.
Gallegos has been booked into the West Valley Detention Center on felony arson charges, and the investigation continues to unfold, leaving the community shaken and seeking answers.
