Video Credit: Giuseppe Stellato, Stellato Boys Produce & Deli
Two women were arrested in a massive brawl and stabbing inside a Deptford Township, New Jersey, Chuck-E-Cheese's restaurant.
Deptford Police were called to the Chuck-E-Cheese's restaurant on 1500 Almonesson Road Sunday at 6:11 p.m. for a report of a disturbance involving 15 to 20 people. A spokesperson for the restaurant said two families were involved in an altercation near the entrance.
Police say an argument over cigarettes led to the brawl.
When police arrived they found people fighting in front of and inside the restaurant. Gloucester Township Police, Woodbury Police, Woodbury Heights Police and West Deptford Police also responded to the restaurant to assist the Deptford officers.
The officers discovered a woman inside the restaurant who suffered a minor stab wound to the hip during the fight. She refused medical treatment. The restaurant's general manager also suffered a cut to his hand while trying to stop the fight.
Two women, ages 47 and 24 and both from Philadelphia, were taken into police custody.
"Why would ya'll do that in front of children?" Marina Granger of Philadelphia asked. "They could've been scared. They didn't know what was going to happen to them."
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Granger told NBC10 she had planned to have her niece's birthday party at the Chuck-E-Cheese's Monday. She put a stop to that after hearing about the fight.
"We already told her last week, 'you're going to Chuck-E-Cheese for your birthday,'" Granger said. "Now today's her birthday. Now I feel like we failed her. She's a child. She still looks forward to certain things."
Police continue to investigate the fight but haven't released the identities of the two women in custody. One woman who was inside the Chuck-E-Cheese's Sunday told NBC10 it was "awfully busy" and there was tension over children having time on rides. Police told NBC10 capacity was not a factor during the brawl however.
"We want parents and caregivers to know that we endeavor to take great measures to protect the experience children and families have in our stores," a spokesperson for the restaurant wrote. "Many of the measures we have in place – such as our Kid Check program, employment of security guards, active security camera systems and additional safety precautions – are transparent to our guests to encourage an environment Where a Kid Can Be a Kid."
Police are asking for additional videos of the incident and for witnesses to come forward. If you have any information on the incident, please call Detective Tim Parks at 856-845-6300, ext. 1225.
