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Pre-Teens Arrested In Connection With "Knockout" Attacks
By
Ben Yakas
Published Dec 21, 2013
Modified Dec 21, 2013
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By
Ben Yakas
Published Dec 21, 2013
Modified Dec 21, 2013
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Three pre-teens and one teen were arrested this week in connection with three separate "knockout" game-style attacks. DNAInfo reports that a 14-year-old girl and three other children, aged 10 and 11, were arrested for three assaults which took place in October and November. "Kids are kids — when you’re talking 10 and 11 year olds getting involved in these type of things, sometimes they don’t realize the magnitude of what they’re doing," said George Fitzgibbon, the 71st Precinct's new commanding officer.
The victims of the three attacks included an 11-year-old who was punched in the face, "a youth who was hit with a rock while walking home from school and a youngster who was "mushed" in the face with a plastic bag." Fitzgibbon added that none of the attacks were motivated by any racial or religious bias, but added, "The only commonality is that basically all the victims were Jewish."
The minors have all been charged with assault, endangerment and criminal mischief; their names are being withheld because of their ages. Police are still investigating several other "knockout" attacks that occurred in NYC this fall. There's still a whole lot of debate whether any of these attackers were targeting Jews in particular, or whether the media has overhyped the story.
Tagged
arrest
knockout
knockout attack
nypd
police
pre-teens
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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