Chaos at the Jersey Shore: Seaside Heights Boardwalk Shut Down After Memorial Day Mayhem Leaves Dozens Arrested and Multiple Stabbed

By: Russ Spencer

What was meant to be a festive Memorial Day weekend at the Jersey Shore quickly descended into chaos, as a wave of stabbings, fights, and general mayhem prompted the temporary closure of Seaside Heights’ beloved two-mile boardwalk, according to multiple reports. As The New York Post reported on Tuesday, more than 70 arrests were made over a violent and unruly 72-hour period, leaving both law enforcement and local businesses struggling to restore order.

According to Seaside Heights Detective Steve Korman, the violence began early Friday and continued until 6 a.m. Monday, with a total of 52 adults and 21 minors arrested by local police. Three young men were stabbed within blocks of the boardwalk, The New York Post report noted, but all three victims refused to cooperate with investigators, leaving authorities with no suspects in custody.

The situation reached a tipping point just after midnight Monday, when the third stabbing incident occurred. In response, Police Chief Thomas Boyd made the unprecedented decision to shut down the entire boardwalk in what officials described as a “proactive approach to ensure public safety,” The New York Post reported, citing remarks made by Korman to the Asbury Park Press.

The boardwalk — which features amusement piers, arcades, restaurants, and bars — has long been a summer staple for visitors across the tri-state area. However, its reputation was tarnished over the weekend as law enforcement struggled to maintain control over an estimated 100,000 visitors, according to The New York Post.

Among those arrested was a 21-year-old man from nearby Beachwood, who was detained following a 911 call about a violent altercation. As The New York Post report detailed, he was charged with possession of a firearm, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, resisting arrest, and obstruction of justice.

In a separate and equally troubling incident, a pedestrian in nearby Seaside Park was struck by a car amid the weekend pandemonium and had to be airlifted to a hospital, Korman told the Asbury Park Press.

The escalating violence mirrors similar scenes from Memorial Day weekend in 2023, when dozens of arrests, a 15-year-old stabbing victim, and widespread panic forced authorities to temporarily shut down the boardwalk after reports of gunfire — though no firearms were ultimately confirmed, The New York Post reported at the time.

In preparation for this year’s holiday surge, Seaside Heights officials had made extensive security preparations, including the deployment of 100 additional police officers and coordination with outside law enforcement agencies, according to the information provided in The New York Post report. Yet even those preventative measures were not enough to quell the unrest.

Mayor Tony Vaz told NJ Advance Media that the borough had hoped for a more controlled environment, but the sheer scale of the crowds — particularly among teens and young adults — overwhelmed enforcement capacity. The New York Post reported that the majority of those involved in altercations were believed to be under 25, with many appearing intoxicated or engaging in reckless behavior.

Local businesses bore the brunt of the disruption. “The last few days have been mayhem in this town,” said Sarah Frailey, a bartender at EJ’s Tap House on the boardwalk, speaking to local media. “Kids were out of control. It’s like the ‘Jersey Shore’ show,” she added, referencing the raucous MTV reality series that made Seaside Heights infamous for its party culture in the early 2010s.

The New York Post report highlighted the concern from long-time residents and business owners that the town is reliving its worst stereotypes, rather than shaking them. What was once seen as youthful revelry has, in recent years, devolved into something more dangerous — a trend local leaders fear could damage the area’s summer tourism economy.

As of now, it remains unclear how long the boardwalk closure lasted, though officials emphasized that reopening would depend on evolving security assessments. Meanwhile, authorities are continuing to review surveillance footage and social media posts in an effort to identify instigators and prevent future disturbances.

This latest episode has ignited renewed debate about crowd control, youth behavior, and the limitations of municipal law enforcement during peak tourism events. As The New York Post has repeatedly reported, holiday weekends at popular beach destinations such as Seaside Heights are increasingly becoming battlegrounds for public order — where the mix of alcohol, high energy, and social media-fueled mob dynamics creates a volatile environment.

In the aftermath, both local and state officials are promising reforms ahead of the Fourth of July. Seaside Heights will likely need to weigh even more aggressive crowd management tactics, enhanced underage curfews, and tighter control of public gatherings, especially along the boardwalk.

But for many residents, the damage is already done. “This was supposed to be a celebration of our service members,” one local store owner told The New York Post. “Instead, it turned into a weekend of police sirens, fights, and fear.”

As the summer season begins, all eyes are on how Seaside Heights — and other Jersey Shore communities — will respond to what has become a troubling Memorial Day tradition.