Garden State Mall Brawl: Chairs Thrown, More Arrests Expected, PD Says

PARAMUS, NJ — A large fight broke out Friday in the Garden State Plaza food court, leaving one person hospitalized in "serious" condition, according to Paramus police. Two people were charged, but authorities expect to make more arrests after several suspects fled the mall.

Police patrolling the premises were alerted about the fight at 7:02 p.m. Friday. Officers saw several people fighting — some wearing ski masks — and throwing chairs at each other, according to Paramus Police Chief Kenneth R. Ehrenberg.

Police found someone who "had been severely punched and stomped upon" and began first aid, Ehrenberg said. Paramus EMS took the victim to Hackensack University Medical Center, where he was listed in "serious" condition, according to police.

Alexander Nieves, 26, of Paterson, had hit the victim in the head with a chair, police said. He was charged with aggravated assault with a weapon. Officials took him to Bergen County Jail with a bail hearing pending.

A 17-year-old boy who punched and stomped the victim was charged with aggravated assault and released to a parent, police said.

Most of the suspects fled before officers could apprehend them, Ehrenberg said. Paramus detectives are reviewing security footage and expect to make more arrests.

Police believe that the suspects and the victim knew each other and that the attack wasn't random. Several people told police that someone had been shot, but officers determined that no shooting took place.

Additional Paramus officers — along with police from Rochelle Park, Maywood and Fair Lawn — also went to the mall and "quickly restored order," Ehrenberg said.