Nearly a Dozen Juveniles Charged in Connection with Aggravated Battery and Mob Action Incidents
Incidents Stem from Online Dating App Attacks
Nearly a dozen juveniles have been charged in connection with two separate incidents of aggravated battery and mob action that occurred earlier this year.
Victims Lured to Locations through Online Dating App
The charges stem from attacks on two adult men who were lured to locations in Mount Prospect through an online dating app.
Incidents Took Place in July
The incidents took place on July 8 in the 900 block of West Lincoln Street and at 606 West Northwest Highway. The victims, a 41-year-old and 23-year-old, were confronted and battered by groups of teenage males. One of the victims was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
Vehicles Damaged, Including Slashing of Tire
In both cases, the victims’ vehicles were also damaged – which included the slashing of one of the victim’s tires.
Charges Filed Against 11 Juveniles
Of the eleven juveniles charged, ten are from Mount Prospect and one is from Arlington Heights. Their ages range from 16 to 17 years old. The charges include multiple felony counts of aggravated battery, criminal damage to property, and mob action.
One Juvenile Faces Additional Hate Crime Charges
One juvenile faces additional charges of hate crime for allegedly using racial and derogatory terms during one of the incidents.
Police Chief Warns of Social Media Trend Inspiration
Mount Prospect Police Chief Michael Eterno said the teenagers were inspired by a viral social media trend.
“We are asking parents to take these incidents as an opportunity to talk with their teenage children about the seriousness of actively participating in these types of trends they see on social media,” Eterno said.
Juveniles Identified through Surveillance Footage
The juveniles were identified in part thanks to surveillance footage.
Juveniles Turned Themselves In
In November, all eleven juveniles turned themselves in and were then transported to the Cook County Juvenile Detention Center in Chicago.
Source
The information in this article was provided by the Mount Prospect Police Department.
Conclusion
The incidents highlight the importance of online safety and the potential consequences of participating in viral social media trends. Parents are urged to have open conversations with their children about the risks associated with these trends and to monitor their online activity.
FAQs
Q: How many juveniles were charged in connection with the incidents?
A: 11 juveniles were charged.
Q: Where are the juveniles from?
A: Ten are from Mount Prospect and one is from Arlington Heights.
Q: What were the ages of the juveniles charged?
A: Their ages range from 16 to 17 years old.
Q: What were the charges filed against the juveniles?
A: The charges include multiple felony counts of aggravated battery, criminal damage to property, and mob action. One juvenile faces additional charges of hate crime.
