Jackson Square reopens following fatal shooting of 16-year-old boy

It is business as usual, at least on the surface, as tenants at Jackson Square reopen their stores less than 24 hours after a deadly shooting inside the mall killed a 16-year-old boy.

While the mall reopened today, the reaction from those inside is hard to ignore.

At Himalayan Hearth Bar & Grill, staff were preparing for a quinceañera on Friday afternoon. Seven tables were set and 60 guests were expected. However, around 5 p.m., gunfire erupted, forcing a lockdown and cancelling the event.

The restaurant says they are not only grieving the loss of a young life but are also dealing with a significant business loss after the event was called off.

Police say the shooting was targeted, but for many in the building, the impact is still sinking in.

“It’s close to my business and it’s pretty scary,” said one Jackson Square tenant.

Customers described a frightening scene inside the mall but also pointed to how the emergency was handled.

“I feel like the law enforcement in Hamilton does a great job,” said one customer. “I know that there were people in the mall yesterday, they took full protocols with lockdowns and everything else to make sure everyone else was as safe as possible.”

WATCH MORE: 16-year-old boy killed in shooting at Hamilton’s Jackson Square

For many business owners, the concern extends beyond immediate safety to whether customers will continue to return to the downtown core.

“These things don’t bring good business, especially when you hear how many things are happening nowadays,” another tenant said. “People don’t really wanna come to Jackson as much as they used to.”

Other community members say the violence should serve as a wake-up call for the city.

“I think it’s a really huge sign for our politicians, our city councillors to implement the right type of change … so people are protected,” a shopper said.

For some workers, the fear hit close to home. One tenant recounted a phone call from a colleague who was working during the incident.

“My co-worker was here last night and she called me when they see it happened, her voice was shaking,” she said.

There are also ongoing worries regarding the mall’s reputation and future foot traffic.

“I know a lot of my friends that avoid Jackson Square,” said another shopper. “Now that it happened again, now there’ll be less customers and I know it’s gonna happen now.”

While police say there is no ongoing threat to the public, the sense of security for many has been shaken.

“Not necessarily feeling safe but I still don’t wanna give up on the area,” said one customer.

WATCH MORE: Police searching for 14-year-old boy involved in fatal Jackson Square shooting