Memorial Day weekend in Seaside Heights spiraled into violence as over 70 arrests—including 21 minors—were made in a wave of stabbings, fights, and mayhem that overwhelmed the iconic Jersey Shore destination.
Despite the town’s effort to bolster security this year with 100 extra officers following 2023’s holiday bedlam, the popular boardwalk turned into a scene of repeated unrest. The 72-hour stretch of chaos began Friday and continued through early Monday, prompting police to temporarily shut down the two-mile boardwalk after a third stabbing just past midnight.
“This was a proactive approach to ensure public safety,” Detective Steve Korman told the Asbury Park Press after the closure ordered by Police Chief Thomas Boyd.
Three young men were stabbed within blocks of the boardwalk, but no arrests were made as all victims declined to cooperate with the investigation. The shutdown disrupted crowds drawn to the area’s famous piers, arcades, and attractions.
Among those taken into custody was a 21-year-old man from Beachwood, charged with multiple offenses including firearm possession and resisting arrest after police responded to a brawl.
The mayhem wasn’t limited to fights—authorities also reported a pedestrian was struck by a car in nearby Seaside Park and airlifted to a hospital.
According to police, an estimated 100,000 people visited Seaside Heights over the holiday weekend, once again testing the town’s ability to manage surging summer crowds.
Last year’s Memorial Day weekend in the same town saw similar disorder, including a teen stabbing and a brief closure of the boardwalk after reports of gunshots sent crowds fleeing. This year’s efforts to prevent a repeat were clearly not enough.
With peak summer tourism just around the corner, the question now looms: can Seaside Heights keep the peace—or is more trouble on the horizon for the Shore’s most iconic boardwalk?
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.