Police: Girl, 13, sexually assaulted by 3 boys in Hunting Park
HUNTING PARK (WPVI) -- The search the continued Monday for three boys who, police say, abducted and sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl in Hunting Park.
It happened around 5 p.m. Sunday on the 1300 block of West Butler Street.
Police say a 13-year-old girl was walking down the street when three boys approached her.
They then grabbed her and snatched her into an abandoned house and sexually assaulted her.
The victim was taken to St. Christopher's Hospital for Children where she is listed in stable condition.
"I just seen like maybe about 13 young boys coming out of that abandoned house," resident Melynee Walker told Action News.
Walker says she saw a group of young boys at the same location hours earlier.
"It's just sad, it's devastating just to see all this going on just right in front of my house," she added.
By Monday night, city workers boarded up the vacant home and sealed it shut.
Residents we spoke with say it's not uncommon to see groups of teens entering and leaving the abandoned home where the alleged assault took place.
"They need to seal that place up. I mean a good seal, not halfway, and if you went down there right now, I bet you can push the door open," said Charles Wardlaw of Hunting Park.
One man who didn't want to be identified watched as detectives searched the vacant home for the teens.
"I saw the three guys and the female peaking at the corner, and when they didn't see the cops looking, they shot straight up and went that way," the man said. "I said, 'There they go right there!'"
Police secured the location to make sure no one broke into the vacant home, but residents are adamant the row home breeds crime.
"They need to do something before something more tragic happens," said Wardlaw.
News of the attack spread fast.
"My daughter actually called me last night and told me," Lenora Brown said on Monday. "It's terrible. I only have one word: it's terrible. It's a lack of involvement with parents."
Some were frustrated that no arrest has been made yet.
"I can't help but wonder who was around, and why they would allow it to happen, because I personally think that there's always someone around that sees it," said Michael Wilson. "People don't know what these kids are capable of nowadas."
Anyone with information about the juveniles behind this are asked to contact Philadelphia Police Special Victims Unit.
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