Teens Arrested Over Filmed Beating

(CBS/AP)  Eight teenagers have been arrested after filming the beating of another teen and threatening to post the video on the Internet, sheriff's officials said.

Victoria Lindsay was attacked on March 30 by six teenage girls when she arrived at a friend's home, the Polk County Sheriff's Office said.

Two girls confronted Lindsay when she walked in, yelling and threatening her, an arrest report showed. Another girl struck her in the head several times and then slammed her head into the bedroom wall, knocking her unconscious.

When she woke up, she was on the couch in the living room surrounded by the six girls. The teens blocked the door, held Lindsay down and began beating her, the report said. Two teenage boys waited outside the home as lookouts.

"That is animalistic behavior. It's pack mentality. They lured her there to beat her," Sheriff Grady Judd said.

Portions of the video were released by the sheriff's office and posted on CBS affiliate WTSP-TV.

"There was talk about apparently after the fact, apparently there's other students that knew that they were going to post this just for the thrill of everyone to see it," Lindsay's mother, Talisa, told CBS News' The Early Show. "Which is just outrageous."

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Lindsay's parents have decided to have her home-schooled, they explained on The Early Show Wednesday. To watch that interview,

click here

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All eight were charged last week with battery and false imprisonment, which are third-degree felonies, the report said.

"When we had them in custody at the station, they were laughing about it, saying, 'Well, I guess this spring break we won't go to the beach," Judd told The Early Show. "One of the suspects asked the detective, 'Am I going to get to go to cheerleading practice tomorrow?"

"They showed absolutely no remorse at all," Judd said.

Lindsay was taken to the hospital by ambulance and treated for a concussion, damage to her left eye and left ear, and numerous bruises, the report said.

Lindsay's father, Patrick, said the teens' motivation for the attack was to produce a video that would become popular on YouTube, a video-sharing Web site.

He told The Early Show that he has not been able to watch the video, that he is too distraught, although his wife has.

"I want stiffer punishments for these shock Web sites that entice kids to make these videos so they can be famous on the Internet," Patrick told The Ledger of Lakeland, Fla. "That is the motive, I am sure of it. It's crazy and it's terrible and they're gonna pay."

But the mother of one of the girls said that Lindsay had provoked the other teens by threatening and insulting them on MySpace, a social networking Web site.

After the girls were arrested, Christina Garcia told the newspaper she looked at Lindsay's MySpace page and saw the message: "hahaha all in jail."

"A lot of people think, 'I can say whatever I want on here and nobody's gonna say anything,'" Garcia said. "A fight is a fight, but this was a beatdown. She did not deserve what she got, but I don't know how she's that messed up and able to get on the computer and talk about that."

[tnorton2003]

I actually see this as a wake up call to America. Yes the media brought it to our attention. Call it exploitation, I don''t care. If this is truly happening everywhere as some have pointed out, then Shame on Us as a society! We are losing this generation! Wake up people!

[martih07]

Indigo Child - what you are overlooking is the fact that while this type of behavior has been happening for years, very few actually videotape it and use it to gain fame and popularity. We, as a society, must stand as one and say NO, this is not acceptable behavior and it will no longer be tolerated. Hence our hoping that the punishment that is levied on these kids will be harsh and hopefully a learning experience for them and others who think that this type of behavior is acceptable. The media is the one that brought this to our attention and continues to bring these things to our attention. Maybe we should wake up, get off the step as you put it, and DO something about it instead of pointing fingers at everyone else and blaming them. Several people have made the point that our youth are becoming insensitive to violence. It''s all around them in movies, TV, video games, etc. Well, what are we going to DO about it? Sit on the step and wait?

[nwalien2]

I have good news: These humanoid trashes will be tried, as an adults and could get (at least some of them) up to life in prison!
Full text is here:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/04/10/girl.fights/index.html

[indigochild-2009]

The one fact everyone is overlooking is that this sort of thing happens everywhere, on a daily basis - on what grounds does this girl''s case take precedence & become news worthy? Because it''s going to turn a few heads, get a ratings boost to anyone who shows footage of it? Everyone is saying, "Oh my, I can''t believe anyone would do something like this and all for the sake of showing it on YouTube!" How''re the people at CNN, or any other news affiliate, better than the individuals who participated & taped the incident? How''re the authorites who released the tape any better? How''re the parents of the victim any better for even allowing this video to be aired? Now, not only is it all over YouTube but it''s all over the news WORLDWIDE for EVERYONE to see. You say these girls ruined your daughters life? Guess what; the media, the authorities and you yourselves aren''t making it any better. It''s because of everyone''s actions during the aftermath of something like this that these things continue to happen. If you want people to stop committing crimes like this - don''t air LIVE footage of it. There is a huge difference between REPORTING THE NEWS and EXPLOITING THE NEWS. You are giving them the reason, you are giving them the power. -- INDIGO CHILD (sitting on the next step of evolution, waiting for the rest of the world to catch up)

[tnorton2003]

They should lock them up and throw away the key. Show this generation we are not a society to tolerate this ***. There are consequences for your actions! Make them accountable!!!!

[tnorton2003]

It is overwhelmingly a disgrace what these teens have done! If I could speak to them I would first ask them how they would feel if they were the one getting beaten.Then ask how they like their 15 minutes of fame that will ruin the rest of their life? I feel bad for the victim and her parents and may God be with them.

[newsterl]

"
"THOSE THAT CRITICIZE OUR GENERATION, FORGET WHO RAISED IT..."

Yeah- krappy parents breed krappy children, its genetic, so to learn the "why" on this stuff, just examine the parents.

"this is what happens when you get little "cliks" in schools."

MAYBE its time to go back to the way things used to be in schools, with the girls in one school and the boys in another, most older schools in urban cities had that or a separate entrance/classes for each.

Or, maybe we need to look into cyber or satellite dish schooling and do away with the brick and mortar buildings entirely- saves energy, costs, maintenance, no more harassment, bullying, liability etc.

[martih07]

We really hope that these teens will be punished to the fullest extent possible. This type of behavior cannot be tolerated or accepted and action must be taken to punish those involved. Hopefully, others will learn that violence and cruelty are not acceptable methods of trying to gain publicity and fame. Can you even imagine if these girls had weapons - like bats? They would have killed her! My family and I are horribly upset by this video and particularly watching the victim putting her hands up to try to protect herself. Even with the pain and fear she must have been feeling, she managed to stay composed and not strike back. Victoria, we pray that you will heal quickly and recover fully from the physical and emotional abuse that we witnessed you endure. Peace be with you and your family.

[ladyoamerica]

bunch of brats. cheerleading practice! c''mon girl. grow up, you little twit. this is what happens when you get little "cliks" in schools.

[newsterl]

ousehouse2
If you want your children to pray in school then send them to a religious school of your religion. That is your choice.