Philadelphia

Caught on Cam: Teens Punch Man With Mental Disability

The video, which has been shared over 1,000 times on Facebook, shows two people punching the man in the face in slow motion.

Police took three teens into custody in connection to a video that shows a man with a mental disability being punched in the face.

The video, which has been shared over 1,000 times on Facebook, shows two teen boys punching the 39-year-old man in the face in slow motion while other teens laugh. Gerald Andrews, a friend of the victim who shared the video on his Facebook page, told NBC10 the incident occurred last Thursday on Chelten Avenue in the Germantown section of Philadelphia.

Andrews said he and the victim work together at a ShopRite in Cheltenham and is hoping that the people who attacked his friend are brought to justice. He also said the victim has a mental disability.

"It was hurtful," Andrews said. "I only watched part of that video and that's when I saw him get punched and I didn't want to see it anymore. He didn't deserve it. And knowing him as a person, I sympathize. It hurts."

Andrews described the victim as a gentle man with a childlike demeanor who loves sports and wishes only the best for people.

"He's a good guy," Andrews said. "He's very friendly. For them to do that to him? No. It's wrong. It's wrong."

ShopRite confirmed the victim is an employee. A spokesperson for the store released a statement on the attack.

“No one should experience something like this, and our associate and his family have our full support at this time," a spokesperson wrote.

On Tuesday police announced three teen boys between the ages of 12 and 15 were arrested in connection to the attack. Police are currently searching for a fourth suspect who they believe is the second teen in the video who punches the man. All four are facing aggravated assault charges. Police also say two of the suspects were also connected to an attack on a school principal who was hit in the face with a brick while trying to break up a fight.

"They do need to understand what they did and be held accountable for it," Andrews said.

A police spokesperson told NBC10 they are investigating the video. If you have any information on the incident, please call Philadelphia Police.

A police investigation is underway after two teens were caught on camera punching a man with a mental disability in Philadelphia.
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