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16-Year-Old Boy Beaten By Large Group At Coney Island After Being Asked 'Are You Static?'
By
Jen Chung
Published Apr 20, 2017
Modified Apr 20, 2017
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By
Jen Chung
Published Apr 20, 2017
Modified Apr 20, 2017
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A teenager was viciously attacked by ten people on Coney Island Sunday, leaving him with a punctured lung. The assault was caught on a video—which was posted to Facebook—and the attackers allegedly asked the 16-year-old victim, "Are you static?" before ganging up on him.
The incident took place around 6 p.m. on Easter, April 16th. The victim was walking near 3205 West 12th Street when he got into a "verbal dispute" with ten males, an NYPD spokesperson said, which then turned into a physical altercation. The group kicked and punched the victim above the waist.
Police and EMS responded to the scene and took the teen to Interfaith Hospital where he was in serious but stable condition. He suffered a small puncture to his lung as well as cuts and bruising above the torso.
The victim's sister reportedly went to the 60th Precinct to report the attack on Monday. "As detectives began their probe, they were informed of the Facebook video and were able to connect it to the hospitalized teen. 'Today in Coney,' the Facebook user who posted the video, captioned it with three emojis for tears," according to WABC 7.
The video remained on Facebook from Sunday through Wednesday afternoon. Facebook told the Post, "We remove graphic images and videos when they are shared to celebrate or glorify violence." (Copies of it ">are still on YouTube.)
The NYPD investigation is ongoing.
Tagged
assault
attack
brooklyn
coney island
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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