PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Six teenagers have been arrested for a series of unprovoked assaults in Center City last week.
Officials say on Tuesday between 3 and 4 p.m., a group of seven teenagers were roaming the area, attacking people from behind and punching them in the head.
The assaults happened at 15th and Chestnut streets, 17th and Chestnut strees, Logan Circle, and 20th and Callowhill streets. A 24-year-old woman who was knocked down suffered a concussion. The other three victims had scrapes and bruises.
Police posted surveillance video of the teens and on Thursday, investigators say the apparent ringleader — a teen wearing pink boots — turned herself in. Five more surrendered Friday. The seventh teen was not involved, police say, but they still want to talk with her.
The teens were between 13 and 15 years old. All attended Anthony Wayne Academy, an alternative school in Germantown.
“All of the six individuals who are locked up — they came in with parents, very cooperative and very saddened by what their young children were doing,” said Police Inspector Ray Evers.
Evers says investigators haven’t been able to find a motive for the attacks.
“There was nothing out in social media that we saw that was, ‘Come to Center [City] and do something.’ This was unprovoked. We’re not sure why they traveled as a group from school to come to Center City,” he said.
“What I can say is of the six who were arrested, none of them were arrested before.”
The teens are facing charges including aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and conspiracy.