A group of teenagers attacked two girls in Kissena Park, Queens, on 2 May. The victims, aged 13 and 16, had been playing basketball when the group approached them.
Police say the teens led the girls into a wooded area and began the assault. One attacker used a baseball bat. Another shaved part of the older girl’s head with hair clippers. Others stood by or filmed the incident.
Footage shows one teen hitting the younger girl repeatedly. She curled up on the ground to protect herself. The attacker then took her trainers — a pair of limited-edition Air Jordan 4 White Oreos worth over $500 — and hit her again. At one point, he appeared to remove a piece of her clothing while she sat dazed.
The group also took the older girl’s phone before fleeing. Both victims were left bruised and shaken. The younger girl may have lost consciousness during the attack. The 16-year-old was taken to hospital with bruises on her back and a bald patch on her head. Her family said she was too traumatised to speak afterwards.
The girls knew the attackers, according to police. All involved are of Asian descent. Authorities have not classified the case as a hate crime, and the motive remains unclear.
Police arrested all five suspects: three 17-year-old boys, a 17-year-old girl, and a 16-year-old boy. They face several charges, including felony robbery, assault with a weapon, gang assault, harassment, strangulation, and grand larceny.
Officials are treating the case as a robbery. However, the victims’ families are calling for a deeper investigation. They believe the assault was planned and deliberate.
