Over 500 teenagers descended on Woodbridge Center Mall in New Jersey after a viral TikTok post encouraged them to gather at a carnival, forcing police to shut down the event and call for backup from five neighboring jurisdictions.

Social Media Chaos Unfolds

The mayhem began when a TikTok post with over 17,000 likes promoted a pop-up party at the mall’s annual carnival. Groups of teenagers started arriving around 3 p.m., but when they were denied entry to the packed carnival, they moved inside the shopping center. Multiple fights erupted in the parking lot as frustrated teens jumped fences to gain access to the closed carnival.

Woodbridge Township Mayor John McCormac explained that the situation deteriorated rapidly. The carnival reached maximum capacity by 6:21 p.m., prompting operators to stop admitting attendees. Within minutes, the entire carnival shut down due to overcrowding and fighting, forcing the mall to close early for safety reasons.

Police Response and Investigation

Woodbridge police had monitored online chatter before the event and briefed neighboring departments in preparation. By 8:11 p.m., officers from Carteret, Rahway, Clark, Sayreville, and Edison arrived to help disperse crowds lingering in the parking lot. While no immediate arrests were made, one teenager received treatment for minor injuries before being released to their parents.

What This Means Going Forward

Captain Brian Murphy of Woodbridge police warned that arrests will likely follow as authorities review footage from body cameras, drones, and social media posts to identify troublemakers. This incident follows a similar TikTok-organized gathering at nearby Menlo Park Mall the previous weekend, where several teens were arrested, and an officer was injured. Murphy urged young people to consider consequences before participating in such events, noting that poor decisions could affect their futures.