A 14-year-old boy was mugged at gunpoint in broad daylight while four others recorded video of the altercation on their cellphones and bystanders did nothing.
The harrowing incident unfolded on Saturday at around 7:50 p.m. at the Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 2 in New York City, New York.
Video published by the New York Police Department showed a group surrounding the boy who was pushed against a large boulder at the sprawling waterfront park.
Bystanders apparently did nothing while the altercation continued. The boy was punched and a gun was put to his head.
Police said the group stole a debit card, a cellphone, a hat, identification cards, and even the teen’s sneakers. The victim refused medical attention and officials said that he knew some in the group of robbers.
One resident told WNBC-TV that maybe young people wouldn’t mug each other at gunpoint if they had fun activities to do.
“They gotta give, uh, the kids something better to do. They need a lot of activities!” said the unidentified man.
WNBC said that there were at least two other muggings in the same area. One mugging victim told them that the group of robbers jumped out of the bushes and took his phone and $700.
Violent crime has been skyrocketing in New York City since the pandemic. In one recent poll, more than three-quarters of New York City residents reported that they were fearful of becoming a victim of violent crime. A startling 70% of respondents also said that they felt less safe in NYC now than before the pandemic.
Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying the suspects.
Here’s a news video about the incident:
Group Robs Teen of Shoes, ID at NYC Park While Others Pull Out Phone to Record | NBC New York www.youtube.com