Girls being charged in Philly brick attack
Updated 5:00 pm. ET
PHILADELPHIA - Five girls were being questioned Tuesday in connection with a violent attack on a young woman and her boyfriend near Temple University, reports CBS Philadelphia. The woman had two teeth dislodged after one of the attackers allegedly hit her in the face with a brick.
The young woman, a 19-year-old Temple student, and her boyfriend were attacked by five teenage girls on Friday. The victim needed surgery to repair her teeth. Temple sent out an email Monday, warning students to avoid isolated areas and to keep aware of their surroundings.
Philadelphia police said Tuesday that one juvenile is under arrest and four others are in custody but not yet charged.
Capt. Frank Banford says investigators think the attacking girls formed an impromptu mob to carry out the crimes.
He says the suspects, ranging in age from 14 to 17, are from different parts of the city. He says they came together about 6 p.m. Friday evening via public transit, and in the span of 20 minutes attacked three students, then took off on a bus.
He says they also found surveillance video which was instrumental in getting the suspects into custody.
"They saw themselves on video," Banford says. "Some actually walked into the Ninth District (police station). Some we were notified by their schools, who recognized them."
He said one or two girls were still at large.
Banford said the girls were brought to the police department's Central Detectives division with their parents. He says charges will definitely be filed against one of the girls in connection with the brick attack, and he expected at least three others to be charged with assault.