WARNING: Some may find the video above disturbing. Viewer discretion is advised.
An apparent case of mistaken identity led to the violent caught-on-video group beating of a Philadelphia teen. Now, the alleged attackers have been arrested.
Several people kicked, punched and stomped on the victim as he's cornered against a stone wall along Wister Street in Olney on June 4. As he tries to get away, one of the attackers sucker-punches him to the back of the head then hit him in the jaw with a orange traffic cone.
The entire attack was recorded by a bystander and eventually made its way to the website MediaTakeOut.com which posted it to Facebook. The video went viral with more than 4.2 million views and 93,000 shares.
A number of people who watched the beating video reached out to Philadelphia Police asking for an investigation. Detectives launched a probe and over the past few weeks made five arrests — four kids and an adult.
The victim suffered a concussion, black eye and dental injuries that will require surgery, detectives said.
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The video claims the boy was beaten over making the honor roll at school, but detectives tell NBC10 they have no evidence that's the case. Their investigation found the attackers thought the boy was someone else who was involved in an earlier fight.
Detectives said the suspects asked the teen whether he was part of the earlier brawl, and after he replied no they beat him anyway.
All five suspects are charged with robbery, aggravated assault, possession of an instrument of crime, theft and related offenses. They have yet to be identified.
