Pictured: Ocean City Police Chief William Campbell at a press conference last week about the fight and stabbing on the boardwalk.
CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE — On Tuesday, police arrested a juvenile suspect and charged him with attempted murder, alleging he is responsible for the stabbing of another teenager Saturday night of the Memorial Day weekend on the Ocean City Boardwalk.
Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey Sutherland and Ocean City Police Chief William Campbell announced the conclusion of a coordinated investigation into the 15-year-old boy’s stabbing in a press release issued today (June 5).
According to Sutherland and Campbell, the Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) received a 9-1-1 call at about 9:12 p.m. Saturday, May 25, regarding an assault on the boardwalk.
It later was determined that a group of juveniles engaged in a mutual fight resulting, in a juvenile victim suffering lacerations and a stab wound to the abdomen, they said. The victim was transported to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, Atlantic City Division, where he was treated for his injuries.
An investigation was initiated by the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office and the OCPD into the identity of the alleged assailant.
“Through diligent investigative work, including witness interviews, surveillance footage review and other investigative analysis, the investigating detectives were able to identify a juvenile suspect,” according to the release. “On June 4, 2024, with the assistance of both the Hamilton Township and Pleasantville Police Departments, this suspect was located and taken into custody within the city of Pleasantville.”
Sutherland and Campbell said the suspect, whose name was withheld, is being charged as a juvenile delinquent with the following offenses: attempted murder, a crime of the first degree; aggravated assault, a crime of the second degree; possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, a crime of the third degree; and possession of a weapon, a crime of the fourth degree. The suspect was lodged in a juvenile detention facility pending court proceedings.
Sutherland praised the collaboration between the agencies involved with the investigation, stating the arrest was a direct result of the hard work and dedication of all of the detectives and officers involved.
“This cooperative effort underscores our commitment to ensuring the safety and security of our community,” he said.
Sutherland added the Prosecutor’s Office, along with municipal law enforcement agencies, are committed to maintaining the safety of the community and will continue to work tirelessly to bring justice to victims of crimes.
The investigation remains active as authorities continue to gather evidence. Anyone with additional information related to the incident is encouraged to contact to the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office at (609) 465-1135 or anonymously on the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office website at cmcpo.tips
Video of the fight on the boardwalk went viral after it happened, prompting city and county officials to hold a news conference saying the boardwalk and Ocean City are “absolutely safe” for families and visitors. They noted it was not an random attack, saying the juveniles involved had planned the event and were targeting each other and did not involve others on the boardwalk.
– By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff