PHILADELPHIA, PA - Philadelphia Police Inspector Raymond Evers announced at a Monday press conference that six teenagers have been charged following a series of random, broad-daylight attacks against people in the Center City area in early November.
As reported by NBC News, the series of four attacks took place over the course of an hour on November 19 in the Center City neighborhood of Philadelphia, reportedly beginning with an attack on a homeless man at approximately 3:15 p.m. Approximately five minutes later, a 24-year-old woman was assaulted by the group who shoved her to the pavement and repeatedly struck the back of her head before fleeing. Police said she was later taken to an area hospital and treated for a concussion.
The third and fourth attacks happened at 3:45 p.m. and 4:10 p.m. A 31-year-old man was repeatedly punched in the face and head by the teens as he walked down 19th Avenue. A woman in her forties was similarly assaulted with several blows to the back of her head and had her hair pulled out by the attackers.
Investigators released footage believed to be of the assailants with a request for information from the public, prior to the suspects’ arrests.
Philadelphia Police Captain Jason Smith told reporters, “How these victims were chosen by the group of assailants is anyone’s guess. What we observe on video is that this group, they approach their victims from behind. They punch them, punch them in the back of the head and they knock them to the ground, and they proceed to attack them as a group.”
On Noveember 21, a 14-year-old girl identified in the video by her pink boots surrendered to police with her parents. Investigators believe her to be the ringleader of the group. The next day the five other teens involved subsequently surrendered as well. Inspector Evers revealed that there was a seventh teenager present during the assaults who did not participate.
The teenagers aged 13-15 are facing charges of aggravated and simple assault, reckless endangerment of another person, and conspiracy.
"[They] go to a good school, good parents," Evers told NBC. "They should be doing good things. So we're not sure what happened here."
As reported by NBC News, the series of four attacks took place over the course of an hour on November 19 in the Center City neighborhood of Philadelphia, reportedly beginning with an attack on a homeless man at approximately 3:15 p.m. Approximately five minutes later, a 24-year-old woman was assaulted by the group who shoved her to the pavement and repeatedly struck the back of her head before fleeing. Police said she was later taken to an area hospital and treated for a concussion.
The third and fourth attacks happened at 3:45 p.m. and 4:10 p.m. A 31-year-old man was repeatedly punched in the face and head by the teens as he walked down 19th Avenue. A woman in her forties was similarly assaulted with several blows to the back of her head and had her hair pulled out by the attackers.
Wanted: Suspects for Multiple Assaults in the 9th District [VIDEO] https://t.co/HB58YOhc5o pic.twitter.com/Xd0SAbMssF
— Philadelphia Police Department (@PhillyPolice) November 21, 2024
Investigators released footage believed to be of the assailants with a request for information from the public, prior to the suspects’ arrests.
Philadelphia Police Captain Jason Smith told reporters, “How these victims were chosen by the group of assailants is anyone’s guess. What we observe on video is that this group, they approach their victims from behind. They punch them, punch them in the back of the head and they knock them to the ground, and they proceed to attack them as a group.”
On Noveember 21, a 14-year-old girl identified in the video by her pink boots surrendered to police with her parents. Investigators believe her to be the ringleader of the group. The next day the five other teens involved subsequently surrendered as well. Inspector Evers revealed that there was a seventh teenager present during the assaults who did not participate.
The teenagers aged 13-15 are facing charges of aggravated and simple assault, reckless endangerment of another person, and conspiracy.
"[They] go to a good school, good parents," Evers told NBC. "They should be doing good things. So we're not sure what happened here."
For corrections or revisions, click here.
The opinions reflected in this article are not necessarily the opinions of LET
Comments