Five teens were in court Monday for their involvement with a fight that broke out at Triangle Town Center Saturday night.

The brawl started around 8 p.m. Saturday night, causing Triangle Town Center officials to close the shopping center early. Police arrested a total of seven people, including a 15-year-old, whose name has not been released. At the peak of the brawl, between 200 and 300 people were involved and one officer cut his knee while chasing a suspect. 

Javonnie Nicholson, 16, was the first of five to appear in court Monday. She and her mother filled out an affidavit for a public defender.  Authorities say if Nicholson is convicted, she could face up to 23 months in jail. According to Nicholson’s mother, her daughter is innocent. 

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Nicholson said it seemed everyone was fighting, she was scared and says she gang symbols.

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"They were showing their colors,” Nicholson said.

She also said she witnessed the 15-year-old being stabbed in the buttocks.

"I just saw a lot of people jumping one boy and stabbing him,” Nicholson said.

But according to police, she wasn't an innocent bystander. She’s charged with inciting a riot, assault on an officer and trespassing. She said she's innocent and was trying to get to safety when police stopped her.

"I was running toward my friend to get my friend in the car, I guess he thought I was charging him and he just slammed me,” Nicholson said.

Nicholson's mother, Della, said she never thought a trip to the mall could land her daughter in court.

"I never in my wildest dreams knew that all was going on,” Della Nicholson said.

The others who appeared in court Monday are:

Tyrell Eugene Brantley, 18, and Darryl Anthony Bobbitt, 18, face 15 months in prison if convicted. Both were released on a $5,000 secured bond into the custody of his guardian. They have been ordered to have no contact with the alleged victim and now has a curfew of 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Laquavis Oneal Jordan, 16, is facing misdemeanor charges. He was released on bond into the custody of his parents.

Christopher James Gamble, 17, who faces the most serious charge -- assault with a deadly weapon in relation to the stabbing. His mother said to her knowledge her son is not part of a gang.

"I really don't have too much clarity on the gang perspective part but, I know that my son wouldn't stab anybody he's more passive than I can even explain,” Coley said.

Gamgle could face up to 98 months in prison if convicted. Gamble was released on a $35,000 secured bond and faces the same curfew as Brantley and Bobbitt. Gamble used to attend Millbrook High School, but is now home schooled, according to his mother.

Ricky Ladd Williams, 16, was released on a $15,000 secured bond because he is currently on probation for conspiracy to commit robbery. The judge ordered him to be under electronic house arrest.

All will appear in court again Aug. 18.

People who visit the mall said that the very idea of something like that happening caught them off guard.

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"I'm surprised that it happened, but I'm not worried about it," said Al Robinson.

"It's kind of weird. I mean, at a mall? You don't usually hear about big fights," said Christine Hansen. "Especially involving how many, like 200 people."

"The chances are there was not enough security down there," said Frank Mosher. "And it probably was started over something really stupid."

Police say the catalyst was gang-related which, according to a press release, means it "occurred to further the purposes of the gang."

Some people say that part of the story is not surprising.

"There's been a lot of gang-related stuff recently," said Hansen. "Especially in schools."

Rachel Whitaker says the incident is giving her second thoughts about going back anytime soon.

"I go to the mall with my little girl, so a mass fight of that capacity, it kind of worries me just a tad bit," Whitaker said.

But at the same time, she says she's not sure there's anything mall security could have done differently.

"You can't control who comes in and what they're doing while they're there, so it is what it is," she said.

Mall officials declined an interview request, but say they're working with police to see if they need to make any changes in their security plans.  Mall officials also met with their employees Sunday morning before the mall opened at noon.

Violence at malls isn't exactly unprecedented; in the last few years there have been at least one other stabbing and a shooting at other Triangle area malls.

Bryan Gilmer, spokesman for The Streets of Southpoint said the mall there already has appropriate security measures in place.

"Providing a safe place for the community to shop is our top concern every day of the year," he said. "We operate under a customized security plan [that] includes patrols by both our private security officers and off-duty law enforcement officers we also hire. We also have a shopper code of conduct that we consistently apply to ensure a safe environment."