5 arrested for videotaped attack on teen in Germantown

GERMANTOWN (WPVI) -- Five people were arrested after police say video surfaced online of a brutal attack on a 17-year-old Philadelphia high school student.

Police say video of the attack on a 17-year-old Martin Luther King High School student was posted all over social media and the suspects were bragging about it.

In the video, people can be heard laughing in the background and someone hits the victim again in the mouth, knocking out some of his teeth.

"This kid was an innocent person, he had done nothing to anybody," said Capt. Malachi Jones, Philadelphia Police.

Police say the incident happened two weeks ago on June 4th as the teen was walking home in the 6500 block of North Wister Street. It was about three blocks from the school.

"The victim is down on his knees on the ground covered up - defensive position. He's not trying to attack and he's being attacked simultaneously several times. You have onlookers - nobody's assisting, nobody is rendering aid to him," said Capt. Jones.

The teenager suffered major dental injuries, a concussion and required a number of stiches to the head.

"It breaks my heart, it breaks my heart," said Gianna Spivey, neighbor.

Residents on the block were outraged after seeing the video for themselves.

"It made my stomach turn. It's ridiculous that somebody would beat somebody else's child anybody like that. It's sad. Yeah, then you have the one's videotaping and not doing anything about it," said Spivey.

"He's so defenseless and sitting there by himself and you have five guys beating up on him. I'm so glad that they found all five of them," said Tia Chase.

Police say someone brought the video to the school's attention and together with police they were able to identify all five people involved.

"All five individuals were arrested. They were first banned from the school once they were identified," said Capt. Jones.

Arrested were 18-year-old Jerome Baston and four teen boys.

All five were not only suspended from school but they face a list of charges including aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person and related offenses.