2 hurt in Jersey City mall gang shooting

A gang shooting led to the evacuation and lockdown of the Newport Centre mall in Jersey City on Friday, authorities said.

A fistfight followed by gunfire erupted at the mall’s food court shortly after 6 p.m., said police.

Emily Alvelo heard the shots while she was working at the Charlotte Russe clothing store.

“There was just a lot of gunshots, and everybody started running and screaming,” said Alvelo, 24. She helped direct nine customers to a back room and locked the store’s doors.

“Everybody was really quiet, panicking, calling family members,” Alvelo said. “We were there for like an hour without information.”

Some stores remained locked down nearly two hours later. No one was reported injured in the lockdown or the evacuation.

Police identified the two shot men as Gerald Harris, 29, and Jahlil Holmes, whose age was not given. One of the men was shot in the abdomen, and the other in the arm.

Both men made their own way to Jersey City Medical Center and were reported in critical but stable condition. Both men were under arrest, said sources.

Jersey City cops had issued a warrant for Holmes’ arrest on an attempted murder charge over a shooting earlier in the week.

Newport Center is just across the Hudson River from Manhattan, south of the Holland Tunnel.