EDISON, N.J. — Seven juveniles were arrested Saturday night after a large-scale brawl broke out at Menlo Park Mall, prompting police and state officials to raise concerns about escalating youth disturbances across New Jersey.
Edison Mayor Sam Joshi said more than 300 young people gathered at the mall around 8 p.m. following viral posts on TikTok and Instagram encouraging teens to meet up. The situation quickly escalated into a fight, though no injuries or weapons were reported.
“This is not just a shore problem. It is everywhere around the state, from boardwalks to malls,” said New Jersey State PBA President Pat Colligan in a statement shared by the NJ State PBA on social media. “With Memorial Day coming, we will see these juvenile mobs grow unless our laws change.”
None of the juveniles arrested were from Edison, according to Joshi. Due to their ages, authorities have not released any further identifying information.
Police responded to initial reports of around 100 people gathering, but the crowd surged to approximately 300 before officers restored order.
Authorities brace for more disturbances as holiday weekend nears
Law enforcement officials are warning that similar incidents may increase during the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, citing an ongoing trend of large gatherings sparked by social media posts.
Joshi confirmed that mall security and Edison police worked quickly to control the situation, which remained confined to the interior of the shopping center.
The mall remained open during the incident but saw heavy police presence throughout the evening.
The NJ State PBA is calling for legislative reform to address what it describes as a growing pattern of disruptive behavior by juveniles in public spaces.
The viral nature of the mall meetup and the scale of the crowd drew attention from local officials and residents alike, raising questions about youth supervision and law enforcement readiness.