Multiple juveniles, some armed with guns, were caught on surveillance video brutally attacking a man outside a gas station store in Cleveland early Tuesday.
The incident occurred when more than a dozen teens in three stolen cars arrived at the Shell station on East 140th Street and St. Clair Avenue around 12:40 a.m. The surveillance video shows some of the teens approaching a 34-year-old man who was sitting against the outer wall of the store and initiating the attack. According to Cleveland.com, the attack appears to be entirely random.
In the video, one of the teens, who remains unidentified, pulls out an AR-15-style rifle from his pants and places it on the ground before joining the assault. Another teen picks up the gun and strikes the victim's head with the butt. The attackers then lift the man off his feet and body-slam him to the ground. After the beating stops, the victim seeks refuge inside the store, while the attackers remain in the parking lot.
Approximately two minutes later, one of the teens puts on a mask, runs around the corner of the gas station, and fires 18 rounds towards Coit Avenue. Authorities are currently investigating the intended target of the gunfire. Cleveland.com reports that several other teens also pull out guns and start shooting from the parking lot before fleeing in the stolen cars.
Police were collecting bullet casings at the gas station when they received a call about a group of teenagers loitering around an abandoned house on Delevan Avenue. Upon arriving at the scene, officers recognize the stolen cars used in the gas station attack parked outside the house.
As a result, they arrest 13 teenagers, all of whom were arraigned the following morning. Twelve of them remain in custody, while a 12-year-old girl has been released pending trial. Although she is charged with receiving stolen property, she did not participate in the violence.
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O'Malley reveals that the teenager who initiated the gunfire is also charged with a killing that occurred on July 9 at a park. It is likely that he will be charged as an adult. The attackers now face a range of charges, including receiving stolen property, felonious assault, and aggravated rioting.
Cleveland.com notes that four of the attackers already had pending cases in Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court. Three of them had previously been arrested for stealing cars, while the fourth was charged with improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle.
Cleveland Police Chief Wayne Drummond describes the attack as "animalistic," emphasizing that such behavior will not be tolerated. Mayor Justin Bibb also condemns the attack, calling it unconscionable and immoral. He states that if juveniles choose to engage in criminal behavior, they will be held accountable.
This incident has raised concerns about the safety and well-being of individuals in Cleveland, as well as the need for stricter measures to prevent such acts of violence.
The surveillance video serves as a chilling reminder of the dangers that can arise when juveniles engage in criminal behavior. The authorities are committed to ensuring that justice is served and that the community remains safe from such acts of violence.
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