LONG BEACH, NY – Chaos erupted Thursday evening as over 2,000 teenagers descended upon Long Beach on Long Island for what authorities described as a “senior skip day.” The gathering quickly spiraled out of control, culminating in a shooting that left at least one person injured.
Witnesses recounted the terrifying moments when the peaceful beach scene turned violent. “Next thing you hear is one shot go off, then you hear several more go off,” a bystander said. “All we see is a flash, and we see a bunch of girls start running. All we see is a couple of people tripping.” The witness and another individual sought refuge in a nearby laundromat.
The Long Beach Police Department, overwhelmed by the sheer number of teens, called in reinforcements from the Nassau County Police to regain control of the situation. The massive party had spilled into the surrounding streets, leading to further chaos.
A mother who rushed to the scene to pick up her son expressed her relief upon finding him safe. “My son asked me to come here and get him,” she said. “There was a shooting. He couldn’t get on the train. When I came, I was like, ‘Oh my God!’ I was just happy that he was safe.”
Authorities confirmed that two individuals were taken into custody. A Long Beach Police officer detailed the sequence of events, stating, “Earlier today, there was a large group of youth on our beach, upwards of over 2,000. The group was dispersed by the Long Beach Police Department with the help of the Nassau County Police Department. Segments of the group got into the area of Edwards Boulevard and Park Avenue, and the individual was shot. That individual was taken to the hospital and is being treated.”
The victim, described as a young adult male, remains hospitalized, though his age and current condition were not disclosed. The officer added, “It appears to be a social media, maybe a senior cut today. There were multiple schools on the beach.”
Adding to the pandemonium, a woman was captured on video twerking atop a Nassau County Police vehicle, further highlighting the chaotic nature of the event.