Terrifying Black Friday Nightmare: 3 Shot in Chaos at Westfield Valley Fair Mall – Full Details on San Jose Shooting

Posted on November 29, 2025 | By Click USA News Staff | Updated 10:15 AM PST

San Jose, CA – Black Friday turned into a real-life horror movie yesterday when gunfire exploded inside Westfield Valley Fair Mall, one of California’s biggest and busiest shopping centers. Three people — including a 16-year-old girl — were shot and wounded in a sudden, terrifying outburst that sent thousands of holiday shoppers running for their lives.

The luxury mall, packed with post-Thanksgiving deal hunters, became a scene of pure panic: screams echoing through marble hallways, abandoned shopping bags everywhere, and families hiding inside stores as police in tactical gear swept the building.

What Happened: Moment-by-Moment Breakdown

The shooting erupted around 5:40 PM near the center of the mall, close to high-traffic areas surrounded by stores like Apple, Louis Vuitton, and Bloomingdale’s.

According to San Jose Police, everything started with an argument between two adult men. Within seconds, one of them pulled out a handgun and opened fire, unleashing as many as 15 shots in the crowded corridor.

Three innocent bystanders were hit:

• An adult male (believed to be one of the people originally arguing)
• An adult female shopping nearby
• A 16-year-old girl who was simply spending Black Friday with friends or family

All three victims were rushed to local hospitals with gunshot wounds. As of Saturday morning, all are in stable condition and expected to survive, but the teenage girl and the female bystander had absolutely nothing to do with the original dispute.

The Escape & Ongoing Manhunt

After firing, the gunman fled the mall along with a group that included women pushing strollers. Despite hundreds of security cameras and a massive police response, the shooter remains at large. San Jose PD has described the incident as “isolated” and says there is no active threat to the public, but detectives are working around the clock chasing leads.

Eyewitness Accounts That Will Chill You

“It sounded like fireworks at first, then everyone started screaming and running. I dropped everything and just grabbed my kids,” one mother told reporters while still shaking after evacuation.

“I was in line at Starbucks when the shots started — pop-pop-pop-pop — nonstop. We all hit the floor. I’ve never been so scared in my life,” said another shopper.

Cell phone videos circulating on social media show hundreds of people streaming out of the mall with their hands up as heavily armed officers guided them to safety.

Mall Reopens Under Heavy Security

Westfield Valley Fair partially reopened Saturday morning with extra private security and San Jose police patrols visible throughout the property. Many shoppers stayed away, however, and foot traffic was noticeably lighter than a typical post-Black Friday weekend.

A Community in Shock

Mayor Matt Mahan called the shooting “completely unacceptable” and vowed the city will do everything possible to find the gunman. Community leaders are organizing a prayer vigil outside the mall this evening.

This incident marks yet another violent intrusion into what should have been a joyful holiday tradition, leaving Silicon Valley residents asking how safe any public space really is anymore.

Click USA News will continue to bring you every update as this story develops. Our hearts go out to the victims and everyone traumatized by yesterday’s events.

Tags: Valley Fair Mall shooting, Black Friday shooting San Jose, 3 shot at Westfield Valley Fair, San Jose mall gunfire, California shopping mall violence 2025