Easter bunny gets into brawl at New Jersey mall

JERSEY CITY, N.J. -- A brawl caught on camera at a mall in New Jersey involved a costumed character you probably wouldn't expect: the mall Easter bunny.

It happened as customers were waiting to get their picture taken with the Easter icon.

A video on social media shows the bunny getting into a brawl at the Newport Centre in Jersey City, New Jersey.

The man, who was dressed as the bunny, is at the center of the melee and can be seen throwing punches outside the seasonal display. Mall security jumps in to get the bunny brawl under control.

According to Jersey City police, the 22-year-old man who was playing the role of the Easter bunny said the father of a 1-year-old child verbally and then physically attacked him after the girl slipped from the chair following her photo.

A fight ensued between both the father and the Easter bunny, with both being taken to Jersey City Medical Center - Barnabas Health with minor injuries.

No charges have been filed at this time, police say, as detectives are continuing to investigate and speak with witnesses as it remains unclear who initiated the incident.

"The safety of guests and cast members is of utmost importance," said Charles Russell, a spokesman for the Noerr Programs, which runs the Easter Bunny photo program. "We will continue to investigate this incident and take appropriate action."

Russell said other employees have been assigned to fill the Easter bunny role.

The Associated Press contributed to this report