Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Buffalo police are searching for two teenagers in connection to a gang assault that left a 15-year-old East Community High School student hospitalized.
Police Commissioner Joe Gramaglia says out of the three suspects, only one has been taken into custody.
"There are two 17-year-olds. One was supposed to turn himself in this morning, and failed to do so. We know that the mother is cooperating and attempting to get her son to turn himself in, and has been unsuccessful. At this point, there's another 17-year-old that is also being sought. We've been unable to locate this individual. The family had been uncooperative up to this point. We are now hearing information that the family is trying to get that individual to turn himself in, and we encourage that cooperation," stated Gramaglia during a Thursday press briefing.
The 15-year-old victim was transported to Oshei Children's Hospital with serious injuries.
"The last update I got that he was still in the intensive care unit. He has significant injuries, including a brain bleed, two broken clavicles, and there's possible spinal injuries, to name a few. So they are rather significant," Gramaglia said. "He was knocked unconscious at the time of the assault."
Gramaglia says the level of violence that was inflicted on the teen cannot be tolerated, and those responsible need to be held accountable.
"If any of the two suspects that are remaining out there see this, somehow, this message gets posted to them, we will find you. We are going to charge you. We will find you. We want you to turn yourself in. That is the safest resolution for everybody. Turn yourself in. You can go to [C] District station to Ferry-Fillmore, or any police station, any police officer, but we encourage you to turn yourself in. We want a safe resolution to this case," Gramaglia said.
Once police are able to locate the last two suspects, they will be charged with Gang Assault in the First Degree. All three will be charged as adolescent offenders.