By KBC Associate :max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(952x784:954x786)/menlo-park-mall-brawl-edison-nj-051825-03-bcd146d1eec04276964fb3601f39d7c5.jpg?w=1200&resize=1200,0&ssl=1 "Multiple Minors Arrested After Brawl with ‘Over 300 Youth’ Broke Out at N.J. Mall")
NEED TO KNOW
- Multiple minors were arrested after a massive brawl broke out at the Menlo Park Mall in New Jersey on May 17
- Edison Mayor Sam Joshi said “over 300 youth” were at the location when the incident occurred at around 8 p.m. local time
- Footage of the chaotic scene that was shared on social media shows groups of teenagers running through a mall food court
Several juveniles have been arrested after a massive brawl broke out in a mall in New Jersey.
The incident occurred at the Menlo Park Mall in Edison at approximately 8 p.m. local time on Saturday, May 17, according to a statement shared on social media by Edison Mayor Sam Joshi.
He said the Edison Police Department (EPD) “was notified that over 300 youth were gathered at Menlo Park mall and a brawl ensued.”
Joshi added: “No weapons were confirmed at the incident and no injuries to juveniles at this time. Neighboring municipalities were notified and provided immediate mutual aid to the Edison Police Department to disperse the crowd.”
In a comment on his post, Joshi clarified that none of the juveniles arrested were from Edison.
Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty
There are currently conflicting reports tied to the total number of arrests. Joshi said, “At least four have been arrested,” while Edison Police Chief Thomas Bryan said seven people were arrested in total, according to My Central Jersey.
Bryan told the local outlet that one of the arrested juveniles was to be charged with aggravated assault of an officer.
The six others are reportedly facing charges of disorderly conduct, and one of them is also charged with resisting arrest, per My Central Jersey.
The EPD, as well as a representative for the Edison Mall, did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on Sunday, May 18.
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Footage of the chaotic scene that was shared on social media shows groups of teenagers running through a mall food court, as yelling can be heard in the background.
NJ.com reported that TikTok and Instagram videos were being shared by teens in the days leading up to the incident, telling people to meet up at the mall on May 17 at 7 p.m.