Full Breakdown
Acid Attack on Wilkinson Avenue Injures Six Women in Jersey City
6/17/2026, 7:02:15 AM
Incident Overview
On Monday night, June 16, 2026, two individuals on a moped sprayed sulfuric acid at a group of women outside 105 Wilkinson Avenue in Jersey City. Six women—three teenagers and three adults—were taken to hospitals. A 21-year-old suffered second-degree facial and scalp burns; the others had skin burns and peeling.
Background & Timeline
Police linked the attack to a dispute among a large group on the same block earlier that day. The assault was reported at about 7:40 p.m.; witnesses described a car pulling up and hurling the acid. By the next morning, officials confirmed five injuries; a later update added a sixth victim. On Tuesday, a juvenile suspect was arrested, while the second rider remains at large.
Key Figures & Responses
Mayor James Solomon condemned the assault, saying violence has no place on city streets and ordering the Jersey City Police Department (JCPD) to allocate all resources. JCPD described the incident as a targeted assault tied to the earlier dispute and confirmed the juvenile arrest, noting no public suspect descriptions have been released.
Community Reaction & Eyewitnesses
Residents voiced fear of chemical exposure and frustration with recurring violence. One neighbor asked, “What am I being exposed to? Anything dangerous out here? I have my 2-year-old daughter.” Another said, “People just don’t have compassion for other people anymore.” Amelia Sanchez recalled hearing a fight and then a scream: “I heard fighting, and then after a couple of minutes of fighting, I heard one of the girls screaming, ‘it burns, it burns.’” Aaron added, “We thought it might have just been a fight,” before noting the emergency response.
Conflicting Reports
Initial police reports listed five victims; a later update added a sixth. Some outlets reported no arrests, while others confirmed a juvenile arrest. Authorities have not disclosed details of the earlier dispute or the second rider’s identity.
Verbatim Quotes
- “My thoughts are with those hurt in this horrific attack, and I want our communities to know that violence like this has absolutely no place on our streets.” — James Solomon, Mayor of Jersey City
- “I heard fighting, and then after a couple of minutes of fighting, I heard one of the girls screaming, 'saying, it burns, it burns,'” — Amelia Sanchez, resident
- “What am I being exposed to? Anything dangerous out here? You know, I have my daughter who is 2 years old,” — Aaron, local resident
- “The attack appears to be targeted and connected to “a dispute between a large group of people” that happened earlier on in the day, police said.” — Jersey City Police Department spokesperson
Next Steps
Investigators continue to seek details about the earlier dispute and the second rider’s identity. JCPD urges anyone with information to contact the department as the investigation remains open.
