Six people suffered chemical burns after authorities say a corrosive substance was thrown at a group on a residential street.
JERSEY CITY, N.J. — Three teenage girls have been charged in connection with an alleged acid attack that injured six people in Jersey City, public safety officials said. The suspects, ages 13, 14 and 15, face assault, weapons and conspiracy charges stemming from the June 15 incident.
The charges mark a significant development in an investigation that began after a corrosive substance was thrown at a group gathered on Wilkinson Avenue. Authorities believe the substance was sulfuric acid and have described the attack as targeted. The accusations against the teenagers have not been proven in court, and officials have not released their names because they are minors.
Police said two people approached the group shortly after 7 p.m. and threw the substance before leaving the area. Some reports described the suspects as traveling on a moped, while an initial account from police said a car pulled up near the victims. Authorities have not publicly resolved that difference or said which suspect is accused of throwing the substance.
All six victims were taken to a local hospital with injuries that officials said were not life-threatening. The group included three teenagers and three adult women. A 21-year-old woman was transferred to a burn unit for treatment of second-degree burns to her face and scalp. Officials said the other injuries included skin burns and peeling, and all six victims were expected to recover.
The emergency response included police, medical crews and a hazardous-materials team. Residents said first responders washed down surfaces near the scene while investigators worked to identify the chemical. Witnesses described hearing screams and seeing injured people holding towels to their faces as they were taken to ambulances.
Authorities initially announced that one juvenile had been arrested. Jersey City officials later confirmed that three teenagers had been detained in connection with the case. They did not disclose the dates of the arrests or explain what evidence linked each teenager to the incident.
News 12 New Jersey reported that the teenagers face charges of aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon, knowingly risking injury or damage, and conspiracy. The Jersey City Department of Public Safety also said each teenager was accused of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon causing bodily injury and additional offenses.
Investigators believe the attack may have followed an earlier dispute involving a larger group. Police have not publicly described the dispute, identified a possible motive or said how the chemical was obtained. Officials also have not released laboratory findings confirming the exact substance used in the attack.
Jersey City Mayor James Solomon called the incident horrific after the attack and said violence of that kind had no place in the city. He directed police to devote their resources to the investigation and to find those responsible. His statement was issued before officials announced that all three teenagers had been charged.
The case is expected to proceed through New Jersey’s juvenile justice system, where records and hearings are often restricted to protect minors. Officials have not announced the teenagers’ next court dates or said whether other suspects are being sought. The investigation remained active Thursday.
Author note: Last updated July 16, 2026.