Dozens Arrested Following Memorial Day Violence on Jersey Shore Boardwalk

Dozens of people were taken into custody after a series of violent brawls and stabbings broke out on the Seaside Heights boardwalk in New Jersey over Memorial Day weekend, prompting authorities to temporarily close the popular destination to restore order.

Between early Friday and 6 a.m. Monday, at least 73 individuals—52 adults and 21 minors—were arrested amid the chaos, according to local police reports. The surge in disruptive behavior overwhelmed law enforcement efforts, resulting in a large number of detentions throughout the traditionally busy holiday weekend.

The incidents, which included three separate stabbings involving young adults, led officials to shut down the boardwalk just after midnight on Monday. Detective Steve Korman of Seaside Heights commented that the third stabbing proved to be the tipping point for authorities as they worked to regain control of the area.

Preparation for potential trouble had already been underway, with SWAT teams on standby in anticipation of issues similar to those experienced during last year’s Memorial Day celebrations. Last year also saw unruly gatherings and violence among juveniles, which prompted heightened police readiness for this year's festivities.

Despite the implementation of a 10 p.m. curfew for minors and increased police presence, large groups of teenagers and young adults still converged around the boardwalk, engaging in multiple altercations. One visitor, Michele Benangus, described the scene: “We call them gangs. I don’t know what they are, just groups of kids, some tougher than others, and we’ve seen them pushing and stuff.”

Local leaders have voiced concern about the situation. Representative Paul Kanitra, R-N.J., acknowledged the swift action taken by police forces but criticized state policies, attributing the escalation in juvenile violence to what he described as “lax” crime laws. “Seaside Heights, one of the great towns in the 10th Legislative District, continues to deal with the repercussions of New Jersey’s lax on crime policies,” Kanitra said. “But they aren’t taking this sitting down. There is now a strict curfew in place to deal with the juveniles who have increasingly become more and more emboldened as a result of our weak Attorney General.”

Currently, the office of New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin and the Seaside Heights Police Department have not provided public statements addressing the incidents or the protocols undertaken over the weekend. As summer approaches, local officials and residents remain on high alert, urging for increased measures to ensure safety at one of the Jersey Shore’s most frequented attractions.