Jones Beach event shut down after fights break out during senior skip day, officials say
An event at Jones Beach was shut down Thursday when police said fights broke out during a senior skip day on Long Island.
New York State Park Police said a crowd of over 500 high school students from Queens and Nassau County packed the Central Mall at Jones Beach State Park for an unsanctioned cut day that led to a few minor injuries and one arrest.
Jones Beach reopened Friday, but visitors' bags and coolers were being checked as they approached the Central Mall. The New York State Parks Department said it would ramp up security there and at Robert Moses State Park after Thursday night's chaos.
"The agencies are also monitoring all social media to ensure that if an unsanctioned event is found, an appropriate law enforcement response will occur. All large events require a permit to take place at the beach," State Parks said.
What happened at Jones Beach?
The gathering at Jones Beach started around 3 p.m. Thursday without any issues, but it escalated a few hours later, according to State Park Police.
"It was senior cut day, and a lot of grades took it as they could do it too, and they all came to the beach, and then it just got crazy. People were fighting," one teen said. "We left right away, we didn't want to be part of that."
"We were just so confused. We were like, why is everyone running, and we were just so scared. So we just ran," another teen said.
Nassau County Police said hundreds of young people were involved in fights, and four were treated on the scene for minor injuries.
"There was apparently some sort of a boxing match, we hear, that may have occurred within them, and that gave the impression that there were multiple fights," New York State Regional Parks Director George Gorman said.
The county police department deployed a helicopter that swooped over the crowd, but later said it was only to observe the scene, report to supervisors and look for people needing medical attention.
"That's dangerous. These are kids, you can really hurt them," Janine Bauman, a visitor to the beach, said Friday. "Sand and things blowing in their face, and someone can get hurt."
The event was shut down at around 6:30 p.m. and the crowd was dispersed by about 8:30 p.m., State Parks said. The beach was not closed, according to officials.
County Police said 18-year-old Kyle Thomas, of Valley Stream, was arrested after allegedly lifting his shirt and displaying the handle of what appeared to be a gun in his waistband. Police said it was an imitation firearm, and Thomas was charged with menacing and disorderly conduct.
Nearby in Long Beach, officials said they shut down the beach last week to prevent a multi-school party. The beach there will remain closed except for weekends and holidays until school lets out later this month.
Thousands of teens descended on Long Beach around this time last year, resulting in gunfire with one person shot and two arrested. Officials said they have been monitoring social media to track plans for any potential gatherings.
