Police in Ocean City, New Jersey, are investigating a stabbing, and another nearby seaside town declared a state of emergency over Memorial Day weekend.
Police responded to the boardwalk Saturday evening and found a 15-year-old male who had been stabbed by an unknown male suspect. The male was transported to a local hospital where he is expected to recover from his injuries.
“In recent years, and like other coastal towns, Ocean City experienced numerous issues at the beginning of Memorial Day weekend when large numbers of teenagers gathered on the Boardwalk, including fights, shoplifting and disorderly conduct,” Ocean City Mayor Jay Gillian said in a statement. “We understand the impact this behavior has on all residents, visitors and business owners, and we want to assure everyone that Ocean City will not tolerate this behavior.”
“Our officers made multiple arrests last night and were able to quickly restore order to the Boardwalk after removing the teens involved in the incident,” he added.
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People walk on the boardwalk in Ocean City, New Jersey, in 2023. (Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images)
“We have a highly competent team of officers on the boardwalk and across the town who will enforce all laws to the fullest,” Gillian assured residents.
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“Ocean City will always welcome all guests, but we want to send a clear message to parents and teens: ‘If you don’t want to behave, don’t come,'” he warned.
Police responded to the boardwalk Saturday evening and found a 15-year-old male who had been stabbed by an unknown male suspect. The male was transported to a local hospital where he is expected to recover from his injuries. (Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Further south in Cape May County, the Wildwood Police Department declared a state of emergency just after midnight Monday, citing “multiple civil disturbance incidents.” The department rescinded the declaration a few hours later, but did not say in a press release whether any arrests had been made.
The violence comes as a shortage of lifeguards has led some municipalities to close beaches or reduce their opening hours. For the beach Pools also become more popular as temperatures rise and people seek outdoor water activities to cool off.
As temperatures rise and people turn to outdoor water activities to cool off, a shortage of lifeguards has led some municipalities to close beaches and pools or reduce their hours. (Theo Wargo/Getty Images)
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in New York Citybeaches will be open Memorial Day weekend, but only 230 of the 600 lifeguards needed to fully staff and patrol the area have been hired.
“We have a national lifeguard problem in the city and we’re working to solve it, so some beaches may have reduced hours or may not have enough staffing,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams said this week.
Fox News’ Louis Casiano contributed to this report.
