Teen stabbed during altercation on Ocean City, NJ boardwalk
The teen sustained non life-threatening injuries.
OCEAN CITY, New Jersey (WPVI) -- Police in Ocean City, New Jersey, are investigating after a teen was stabbed on the boardwalk this holiday weekend.
Officers responded to reports of a fight on the 1000 block of the boardwalk just after 9 p.m. Saturday.
Upon arrival, they discovered that a 15-year-old male was stabbed during an altercation by an unknown male suspect.
The teen was treated at the scene by the Ocean City Fire Department and then transported to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center in Atlantic City for further treatment.
He sustained non-life-threatening injuries, according to police.
Ocean City officials say several arrests were made after the altercation, but did not say whether the alleged stabber was taken into custody.
Video showed the chaos unfolding and the police apprehending several teens.
"They were already on the ground getting a couple of girls being arrested and trying to push the crowd away, people taking video, it was pretty uncontrollable," said Melissa, who witnessed the incident.
She was on the boardwalk with her daughter when the turmoil started.
"I was literally right here next to where it happened, all these teenagers started running," she said.
Melissa told Action News it wasn't just one fight that happened. As tensions flared, however, panic set in, and many tried to quickly flee the area.
"I grabbed them, we started going to my car. Then all these teenagers started flooding down the boardwalk on 10th Street, and police cars started rolling up," she said.
This is not the first incident to take place in South Jersey over Memorial Day weekend. On Friday, officials say a fight involving two juveniles broke out on the boardwalk.
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In that incident, police say a large crowd of teens surrounded the fight. Officers were able to break it up, however, and multiple people were detained.
No injuries were reported in that case and no weapons were involved.
The mayor of Ocean City released a statement regarding growing issues at shore towns dealing with large crowds, especially teens, in recent years. He wrote in part, "Ocean City will always be welcoming to all guests, but I want to send a clear message to parents and to teens: 'If you don't want to behave, don't come.'"
Parents told Action News they were shocked to learn about the fights and stabbing incident. They say Ocean City has always been family-friendly.
"Definitely makes you feel uneasy. I have children in their teens, it's still scary, you don't want anyone getting hurt," said John Scalia from Reading, Pennsylvania.
"It shocks and surprises me. We come to Ocean City all the time, it's a family-friendly boardwalk. It's not something you would expect," added Karen Hoffman from Somerdale, New Jersey.
People also said they're hoping things will change for the better this summer.
"I'm never dropping her off by herself, that is for sure," Melissa said about her daughter. "The Ocean City boardwalk is not the place you see that kind of thing. Family-friendly, very safe, very clean. Pretty surprising."
Anyone with information on the stabbing is urged asked to contact Ocean City police at 609-525-9129.
Ocean City Mayor Jay A. Gillian released the following statement on the stabbing:
"As in recent years and in other shore towns, Ocean City experienced a number of issues related to large crowds of teens on the Boardwalk, fights, shoplifting, and disorderly conduct during the start of Memorial Day Weekend.
I understand the impact that this behavior has on all of our residents, guests, and business owners, and I want to assure everybody that Ocean City will not tolerate it.
Our officers made multiple arrests last night and were able to quickly restore order to the Boardwalk once the teens involved in these incidents were removed. We have a highly qualified team of officers on the boardwalk and throughout town, and they will enforce all laws to the fullest.
Ocean City will always be welcoming to all guests, but I want to send a clear message to parents and to teens: 'If you don't want to behave, don't come.'"
