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BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — A group of juveniles in Boston are accused of attacking multiple people, including two college students, in the Common and at Downtown Crossing, and have caught the attention of the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office.
According to DA Kevin Hayden, the group of juveniles are an "ongoing public safety threat," but say that because some of the suspects are under the age of twelve, they cannot be arrested or prosecuted under the 2018 criminal reform legislation. That same legislation limits the ability for law enforcement to hold children under the age of fourteen.
"Under this legislation, the primary responsibility for preventing these attacks instead falls on city, state and community agencies. We urge those agencies to take every possible measure to intervene with the children involved," a statement from the Suffolk DA's office read.
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On Wednesday night, two Suffolk University students were attacked by the group of kids while walking through Boston Common, the school's police said to WBZ-TV. According to officials one of the SU students was punched by one of the juveniles whose ages ranged from eleven to fourteen-years-old.
Suffolk University Police told WBZ-TV that the same group is responsible for unprovoked attacks and property damage in the Downtown Crossing area, Macy's, and the Boston Common. Officials say that the Boston Police Department is seeking criminal complaints against the juveniles.
Additionally, the BPD said they are increasing patrols in the Common and Downtown Crossing, with SUPD officers reinforcing their presence on Tremont Street.
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