Gang of 6 teens — including 14-year-old girl 'leader' — charged for 'unprovoked,' broad-daylight beatdowns in space of 1 hour



A gang of six teenagers — including the "leader," a 14-year-old girl — have been charged in connection with a series of broad-daylight physical attacks that occurred in the space of one hour last week in Philadelphia.

The minors — all students at Anthony Wayne School in Grays Ferry — were charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, reckless endangerment, and other crimes in connection with the "unprovoked" attacks last Tuesday, WTXF-TV reported.

'Of the six that were arrested, none of them were arrested before, which is very, very surprising. We're not sure what caused them to do this.'

Some of their movements were captured on video the police department posted on YouTube. The video indicates that all of victims were attacked from behind and were punched in the head and face several times.

WTXF, citing investigators, said one of the teens punched a homeless man in the face near the intersection of 15th and Chestnut Streets around 3 p.m.

Philadelphia Police Inspector Raymond Evers noted that a 14-year-old girl, whom he described as the "leader," minutes later punched a 24-year-old woman near 17th and Chestnut Streets, the station said.

The other teens joined in by punching the woman while she was on the ground, after which the victim suffered a concussion, investigators told WTXF.

Evers noted that the girl "leader" was "instructing the other kids what to do," the station said, adding the Evers noted the girl was wearing "pink boots" and that the attacks were "unprovoked."

Evers added to WTXF that the teens moved to the 200 block of North 19th Street where a 31-year-old man was punched and chased less than an hour after the first attack.

Investigators added that a 40-year-old woman was punched near the Target on 20th and Callowhill Streets moments later, the station said.

Evers said the 14-year-old girl "leader" turned herself in with her parents that day after police shared surveillance video of teens wanted for the attacks, WTXF reported.

The following day the other five teens surrendered to police while accompanied by their parents, Evers told the station.

"The parents were right on point," Evers said, according to WTXF. "They saw their kids did something wrong ... and ... they turned their kids in."

Evers added to the station that investigators are still trying to figure out a motive: "Of the six that were arrested, none of them were arrested before, which is very, very surprising. We're not sure what caused them to do this."

You can view a news video report here about the charged teens.

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Merciless thugs beat up 66-year-old man, knocking him out, after they stuck gun in his face and demanded 'everything': Report



Baltimore news station WBFF-TV spoke to a 66-year-old man who said a group of masked youths — as many as five — brutally attacked and robbed him at gunpoint Thursday night while he was on his way home.

The disturbing beat-down also was caught on surveillance video, the station said.

'There is no accountability. They keep letting them go and letting them go and this is what you’re going to have. You guys really start thinking about changing some laws. And you better do it fast before it hits your house next.'

Bernie — who didn't want his last name shared publicly — told the station, “I actually didn’t hear anything. They were very, very quiet. Almost like they snuck up on me. But I could feel their presence. They didn’t say anything, but when I saw them, they had ski masks on."

He added to WBFF, "In my mind, I knew what was coming next, so I started to run, and they started to chase me. As I was running, I was yelling, ‘Help, help, I’m being robbed.’ He pulled the gun out, and he stuck the gun in my face, and I said, ‘What do you want?’ He said, ‘I want everything.'"

The video shows three of the hooded culprits surrounding the victim, who's lying face-down in the street. One of them stomps on the victim's head — the sickening stomp is audible on the video — while another punches him twice. They appear to take the victim's property and then run off.

WBFF said Bernie was knocked out as a result of the attack in the neighborhood near Patterson Park in Baltimore City. Now his left eye is swollen and black and blue, and he has seven stitches near his eyebrow, the station added.

While Bernie told WBFF five suspects attacked him, Baltimore Police said they arrested two males: 18-year-old Montaz Bailey and a 15-year-old male. Police also said a handgun was recovered along with the victim's property after the attack in 200 block of South Madeira Street.

Police said Bailey was taken to the Central Booking and Intake Facility for processing while the 15-year-old male was taken to the Juvenile Justice Center to request a review for detention — but the boy soon was released to a guardian. Both suspects have prior arrests, police said.

Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates authorized an attempted first-degree murder charge to be filed against Bailey, WBFF reported.

“I think I was a prime target for them," Bernie added to the station. "They waited for a prime opportunity to pounce. They get apprehended and within hours, they're back on the street again. They laugh and think it’s a joke. To be honest with you, I can’t blame them for laughing. If I was in their shoes, I’d be laughing about it, too. If you can commit a crime and not be held accountable — there’s no consequences — what’s to stop you?"

“This incident is truly horrific, and my heart is with this victim and our communities,” Police Commissioner Richard Worley said. “More must be done to address the ongoing challenges of crimes being committed by young people and the lack of consequences and accountability. These incidents undermine the work of the BPD and erode the trust our communities place in us to keep them safe.”

Democrat Mayor Brandon M. Scott added, "Time and time again, we’re frustrated by this pattern of repeatedly needing to arrest the same young people who have not received the accountability necessary from other parts of the justice system. The current pattern does a disservice to our residents, our city, and — importantly — the young people themselves. Our police officers are doing their job, and I commend them for their quick action to find those responsible for this terrible attack. But clearly the larger system continues to fail these young people by returning them to the same environment that cannot hold them accountable or on the right path without the additional support needed to make a real change.”

Bernie noted to WBFF, “There is no accountability. They keep letting them go and letting them go and this is what you’re going to have. You guys really start thinking about changing some laws. And you better do it fast before it hits your house next.”

You can view a video report here about the incident.

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Mob of 50 teens on bicycles easily ransacks 7-Eleven in LA and escapes cops — the latest episode in apparent criminal trend



A mob of about 50 juveniles on bicycles easily ransacked and robbed a 7-Eleven in Los Angeles late last week and escaped police. It was the latest episode in an apparent criminal trend in the area.

Los Angeles police confirmed to KTLA-TV that about 50 kids just before 7:30 p.m. Friday biked to the convenience store at the 8500 block of West Olympic Boulevard near Beverley Hills, stole items, and fled the scene on their bicycles before police arrived.

In August, a bike-riding mob of about 20 pulled off three smash-and-grab robberies in 20 minutes at Hollywood 7-Elevens within a two-mile radius of each other.

You can view a KTLA video report here about Friday's incident, which includes cellphone video of the robbery.

The clip shows teens — mostly wearing hoodies and dark clothing — jumping off their bicycles in the 7-Eleven parking lot, mobbing their way into the store, and "stealing whatever they could get their hands on, including food and lottery tickets, stuffing their shirts and sweatshirts and pockets with the merchandise," according to the station's reporter.

The deed was done in a matter of minutes, KTLA's video report said, adding that an Instagram account Street People of Beverly Hills also posted videos showing "some of the juveniles covering their faces with hoods and masks as they run in and out of the store, and others are seen laughing as they run back to their bikes with stolen goods."

KTLA said it isn't known how much merchandise was stolen or how much damage may have been caused.

According to KTTV-TV, Friday's caper "is the latest in what seems to be a trend."

In August, a bike-riding mob of about 20 pulled off three smash-and-grab robberies in 20 minutes at Hollywood 7-Elevens within a two-mile radius of each other. Ironically, the crimes occurred on the same day Democrat California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed bills into law that were enacted to combat such crimes, KNBC-TV reported.

The station also rolled surveillance video of a similar smash-and-grab by a mob of teenagers at another area 7-Eleven the previous week.

What's more, a mob of about 30 teenagers on bicycles were caught on video brutally beating up and robbing a lone man in downtown Los Angeles in early August. The victim suffered a broken leg — which will require surgery — as well as deep cuts all over his body after getting kicked and punched while on the ground.

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Mob of 30 teens on bicycles caught on video brutally beating up, robbing lone man in street: 'This is what LA has come to'



A mob of about 30 teenagers on bicycles were caught on video brutally beating up and robbing a lone man in downtown Los Angeles earlier this month, KTLA-TV reported.

You can view the station's video report — which includes cellphone video of the attack and an interview with the victim — here.

The station said a witness captured video of what happened next: The mob of teens assaulted Uulu, stole his property — including his backpack and wallet — from his vehicle, shattered the car's windows, and repeatedly stomped on the vehicle's hood and trunk.

Shailoobek Bazarbai Uulu told KTLA he was stopped at a red light at the intersection of Olympic Boulevard and Hope Street on Aug. 2 when the group pulled in front of his vehicle.

When the light turned green, Uulu told the station he attempted to pass them when "one of them threw a bottle of water in my car. So, I don’t know what happened.”

Uulu then pulled over and exited his car, after which he said the group surrounded him, KTLA reported.

The station said a witness captured video of what happened next: The mob of teens assaulted Uulu, stole his property — including his backpack and wallet — from his vehicle, shattered the car's windows, and repeatedly stomped on the vehicle's hood and trunk.

“This is what L.A. has come to,” the man recording video of the incident was heard saying, KTLA reported. “Dog, I’m not even playing. I literally just parked. These kids are wild, not older than 20.”

The station said Uulu could be seen barefoot and limping as the teens pushed and punched him in the back of his head.

In the end, Uulu suffered a broken leg — which will require surgery — as well as deep cuts all over his body after getting kicked and punched while on the ground, KTLA said.

“Suddenly, someone pulled me out, and she literally saved my life,” Uulu told the station. “It was a young lady [who took] me aside ...”

KTLA added that a few adults — including the witness who recorded the video — tried to stop the attack and get the teens to leave the area; traffic was backed up as a result of the attack.

'It’s a been a week, and no one has been arrested.'

Uulu told the station he’d been planning on moving, which is why many of his belongings were in his car — but many of those possessions are now gone, including documents, cash, and credit cards.

The victim told KTLA he did nothing to provoke the attack, but one of the teens in the clip can be heard telling the witness who was recording that Uulu cut them off with his car and nearly hit them.

As you might guess, the teen attackers all fled the area by the time police arrived, the station said, adding that Uulu was taken to a hospital.

“It’s a been a week, and no one has been arrested,” he noted to KTLA. “They stole my bank cards, and they even tried to use it a few days later.”

Uulu also told the station the teens caused $20,000 worth of damage to his car. A GoFundMe for the victim has raised over $11,000 as of Monday afternoon.

“I am alone here and never thought that I could find myself in such a situation,” he added to KTLA.

Those with information about the attack can call LAPD’s Central Station at 213-486-6606, and those wishing to remain anonymous can call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-222-8477 or leave tips online at www.lacrimestoppers.org, the station said.

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Male, 30, shoots 14 rounds at teens playing 'ding-dong-ditch' prank — and wounds 1, police say



A 30-year-old male used a handgun to shoot 14 rounds at teenagers playing a "ding-dong-ditch" prank over the weekend and wounded one of them, police in Maine said.

Police arrived in Harrison around 1 a.m. Saturday in the wake of numerous reports concerning gunshots and screaming, WMTW-TV reported.

'This innocent prank needs to be put on a shelf somewhere and never visited again.'

A police investigation revealed that Vincent Martin produced a 9mm handgun and shot 14 rounds at the teens after they rang the doorbell at 91 Waterford Road, the station said.

Police said as deputies arrived and found blood on the street, one victim — whose name authorities haven't released — walked into Bridgton Hospital with a gunshot wound to the right calf, which wasn't life threatening, WMTW reported.

Martin was arrested on multiple charges, the station said, including aggravated assault and reckless conduct. He was being held on $5,000 cash bail, WMTW reported, adding that a judge ordered Martin to not contact any of the teens or use or purchase firearms and ammunition. There was no inmate listing Wednesday for Martin at the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office website.

Cumberland County Sheriff Kevin Joyce told WMTV that "in my mind, the kids should not have been doing what they were doing. However, the individual bringing a firearm and shooting at kids while they’re fleeing is obviously a problem as well."

Joyce added to the station, "People are construing the fact that they can defend their residence, their family, et cetera — and maybe taking it a little over the limit in this particular case. We’re living in a world where it just seems like everybody's on edge."

But it appears the sheriff is no fan of "ding-dong-ditch” as he added, "This innocent prank needs to be put on a shelf somewhere and never visited again."

You can view a video report about the incident here.

Anything else?

Blaze News last week reported that Canadian police recommended charges against an 85-year-old man they said rammed his car into two of three teens who had played a doorbell prank on him in February.

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Brawl erupts after 200 'rowdy' teens gather at shopping mall carnival; teen jumps on cop's back, another elbows cop in head



A brawl erupted after around 200 "rowdy" teens gathered at a Minnesota shopping mall carnival over the weekend.

Image source: KARE-TV video screenshot

Among the featured attractions: a teen jumping on a police officer's back, coupled with another youngster elbowing the same officer in the head. The officer suffered a concussion and is out of work, KARE-TV reported.

'Grow up. ... I understand you're kids, but ... it's not right.'

Officers working security at the Northtown Mall carnival in Blaine said around 200 kids between the ages of 14 and 17 were "being rowdy" at about 7 p.m. Saturday, the station said.

Several teens began fighting around 7:30 p.m., and officers tried to break it up, KARE said.

Image source: KARE-TV video screenshot

"As officers were restraining the active participants, other juveniles from the crowd continued to kick and punch others who were on the ground. One juvenile jumped on the back of an officer while another struck the officer in the head with her elbow. That officer was later diagnosed with a concussion," a Blaine Police Department news release noted, according to KARE.

The station said overhead police drone video shows teens stepping around officers to kick individuals on the ground, teens and officers pushing each other, and observers capturing it all on cell phones.

Image source: KARE-TV video screenshot

Additional Blaine cops showed up to help, along with officers from other Anoka County agencies, KARE reported, adding that the brawl continued for three minutes until an officer threatened the use of a chemical spray.

With that, the teens ran into the mall, which forced officers to close the mall out of precaution, the station said, adding that the carnival was shut down as well.

Two teens were arrested and charged with assault, KARE said, adding that authorities said additional charges are possible.

The station added that last year's carnival also was shut down due to a fight near the Ferris wheel.

Blaine's police chief, Brian Podany, appeared fed up with the teens' behavior.

Image source: KARE-TV video screenshot

"Grow up," Podany told KARE during an on-camera interview. "I understand you're kids, but ... there was no efforts to stop any of the violence other than by law enforcement, and it's not right."

Officials told the station the carnival will reopen Wednesday and run through Sunday, adding that fencing will be set up around the carnival grounds that will enforce a single entry point. In addition, no one under 18 will be allowed into the carnival without a parent or guardian, KARE noted.

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