I was about to post this under the crime and security thread, but I then felt that because of how injured the victims were (among other factors) it would be necessary to start a thread on this. I'm sorry it has to be such bad news though.

I just found out while I was at a potluck tonight that my friend's boyfriend and one of his friends were severely attacked and beaten by four African-American males right on Baltimore avenue between 43rd and 44th at around 9:30 last friday night. One of the two victims had a bad concussion with some short-term memory loss and the other had two black eyes and a back injury from being kicked in the back and stomach. Strangely, there were people around, including people in cars honking at the group of attackers, but nobody intervened or called the police, and that I didn't hear about it until almost a week later. As far as I know, they have not been caught.

My friend described the assailants as being black like I mentioned above, with three of them looking to be around the age of 16 or 17 and the fourth in his early 20s. They were also described as being pretty big. Please be carful and keep an eye out for this group (although my description is rather vague) while you're out and about this weekend.
Please spread word about this.

Enjoy your weekend and try to think spring!

I hope your friend is okay. The violence is U-City is getting worst and worst.

That description is far too vague for us to be able to "keep an eye out." Will "spreading the word" accomplish anything other than paranoia?

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that's about the same description as the 3 kids that beat up the drexel grad student.

i think you should spread the word that people should fight back and that innocent by-standers shouldn't sit back and let someone get the crap kicked out of them (unless they deserve it for some reason).

The more people you scare off the streets, the more dangerous the streets will get. Encouraging people to fight back will accomplish a lot more than scaring them into driving or taking the Penn shuttle everywhere.

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this is exactly why philadelphia isnt a good place n e more

^ u r a dumb ass.

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How exactly is this a helpful response to all of us who live here and think it is a good place?

I am sorry to hear about your friends.

That description though fits over half the people in UC. Go on the assumption this can happen. Be prepared. Yet another good reason to get a license to carry. Did they rob them or just felt like beating on someone?

Plus those people beeping in their automobiles don't want to get involved for fear they'd be shot. Calling 911 though could have helped. Such a shame. I hope the two victims make out alright.

I'm sorry to hear about what happened to you. It's very important, as others have stated, to be careful when you're out and about. I also agree with Dave, you cannot "take back the streets" by hiding in doors. We must be vigilante about our safety, and the fact that the neighborhoods belong to decent, hard working, law abiding folks.

Why wasn't this reported in any of the media? It sounds like a pretty heinous attack. Are "they" suppressing negative press in UCity?

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Most people do not really want freedom, because freedom involves responsibility, and most people are frightened of responsibility.
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