Six teenagers have been charged following a series of “unprovoked” assaults in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The attacks occurred in a short time frame on November 19, with police reporting that they began around 3 p.m.
According to Philadelphia Police Inspector Raymond Evers, the first incident involved a homeless man who was punched in the face by one of the suspects near 15th and Chestnut streets. Not long after, a 14-year-old girl attacked a 24-year-old woman from behind at 17th and Chestnut streets. As the woman lay on the ground, several teenagers joined in, leading to serious injuries, including a concussion.
Evers highlighted that the young girl was somewhat of a leader in the group, directing the others during the assault. Less than an hour later, they targeted a 31-year-old man on North 19th Street, attacking and chasing him as well.
The spree of violence continued in the vicinity of a Target store, where a 40-year-old woman was also assaulted. Police were able to acquire surveillance footage of the group, and within a day of releasing the video to the public, the 14-year-old suspect turned herself in with her parents. The following day, five additional teenagers surrendered to authorities, also accompanied by their parents.
The police commended the parents for taking responsibility, acknowledging their role in ensuring their children faced the consequences of their actions. Each of the teenagers now faces multiple charges, including aggravated assault, simple assault, and reckless endangerment.
Inspector Evers expressed surprise that none of the arrested teens had prior criminal records, underlining the unpredictable nature of the attacks. Investigators are still trying to uncover the motive behind this alarming behavior.
