Six women were injured Monday evening in northern New Jersey after two suspects riding on a moped threw acid on them in a suspected targeted attack, officials said.
A spokesperson for the City of Jersey City told NTD via email on Tuesday that the group of women was outside a residence on the 100 block of Wilkinson Avenue when the assailants drove up and threw a substance believed to be sulfuric acid at them.
Officials initially said that five women had been injured in the attack, three of whom were teenagers. However, the spokesperson noted that an additional 21-year-old woman was transferred to a burn unit Tuesday for treatment of second-degree burns she had sustained to her face and scalp.
The five other women also sustained non-life-threatening injuries, including skin burns and peeling. They were all taken to a local hospital for treatment and were listed in stable condition as of Monday evening. None of the victims’ identities have been released.
The city’s spokesperson said one juvenile has been taken into custody in connection with the aggravated assault, though official charges are pending. The suspect’s identity and exact age were not disclosed, and it is unclear whether authorities have a description of the second suspect believed to have been involved in the acid attack.
The Jersey City Police Department is investigating the incident, which officials said appears to have been targeted, possibly stemming from a dispute between a large group of people earlier in the day. Officials have not released an official motive or any additional details about what led up to the attack. NTD reached out to the police department for more information, but a response was not received by publication time.
“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,” Solomon wrote. “I have directed JCPD to use its full resources on the investigation, and to ensure that our officers work around the clock to find those responsible and bring them to justice.”
