Teens arrested for series of ‘unprovoked’ attacks within an hour in Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA – Six teenagers have been charged in a series of “unprovoked” attacks that occurred in broad daylight around Philadelphia last week, investigators said.

The underage students, all of whom attend Anthony Wayne School in Grays Ferry, began their violent rampage in the city Tuesday afternoon, Superintendent Raymond Evers said.

According to the investigators, one of the young people punched a homeless man in the face at around 15:00 at the intersection of 15th Street and Chestnut streets.

Minutes later, Evers said, a 14-year-old girl he identified as the leader of the group punched a 24-year-old woman from behind near 17th and Chestnut streets.

MORE LOCAL TITLES

Investigators said the group joined in by punching the woman while she was on the ground, causing the victim to suffer a concussion.

“The woman wearing the pink boots was kind of a leader, telling the other kids what to do,” Evers said.

Less than an hour after the first attack, the group moved to the 200 block of North 19th Street, where a 31-year-old man was punched and chased, Evers said.

Moments later, investigators say a 40-year-old woman was punched near the Target at 20th and Callowhill streets.

A day after police shared security footage of a group of teenagers wanted for attacks, Evers said the 14-year-old “leader” had surrendered to his family.

Evers said that the other five young people wanted by the police surrendered to the police a day later, accompanied by their parents.

“The parents were right, they saw their child was doing something wrong on Wednesday and they turned their child in on Friday,” Evers said.

Each teen was charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, reckless endangerment and other crimes.

At a news conference Monday, Evers called the attacks “unprovoked” and said investigators were still trying to determine a motive.

“None of the six people arrested have ever been arrested before, which is very, very surprising,” Evers said. “We’re not sure what caused them to do this.”