Teens Get Minor Injuries During Fight At West Orange Fireworks Show

WEST ORANGE, NJ — A teenage feud that began on social media turned physical at West Orange’s 4th of July fireworks show, authorities said.

The Township of West Orange held an Independence Day celebration at West Orange High School, which included a fireworks show that was scheduled to kick off around 9:15 p.m.

According to a township spokesperson, West Orange police officers assigned to firework detail at 51 Conforti Avenue got a call from central communications at 8:48 p.m., requesting their aid with a report of a lost cell phone.

Here’s what happened next, police said:

“Responding officers spoke with three juvenile females near the practice bubble on school grounds. All three, who live out of town, had been attending the fireworks display. One female juvenile stated that a girl she knew only by an Instagram username had been feuding on social media over a boy. The same juvenile further stated to officers that the individual only known by the Instagram username is believed to also live out of town and recently graduated from a high school in Montclair.”

West Orange police continued:

“A short time before officers arrived, it was stated by one of the reporting juveniles that a fight ensued after she had been attacked by the juvenile only known by the Instagram username, with approximately eight other juvenile females near the practice bubble. They all fell to the ground, but eventually the parties that joined in were pulled apart and separated. Minor injuries were received by some, but they all refused medical attention. One of the juveniles reported to officers that after they were pulled apart, she noticed her purse (valued at $50) containing a driver's license along with various credit cards and membership cards was missing.”

While officers were speaking with the juvenile victims, one of them received taunting text messages from an unknown phone number relating to the fight. The same juvenile victim also received separately – from a friend – a video of the fight that was taken by an unknown party, authorities said.

According to the West Orange Police Department, the video began after the fight started and concluded before the fight ended. The missing purse can be identified in the video and seen being held by the reporting juvenile victim.

West Orange police concluded:

“All the reporting juvenile victims live in Essex County, but are not West Orange residents. A copy of the video was then sent to the WOPD. A parent of one of the juvenile victims took custody of all three, and juvenile release forms were completed. The missing cell phone that prompted the initial call was subsequently found in the vicinity and was discovered damaged beyond repair. The credit cards contained in the missing purse were also subsequently cancelled.”

The incident is under investigation and no other details are available at this time, police told Patch on Wednesday.

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