Pennsylvania police confirmed that two people have been identified as suspects in a brutal North Philadelphia beating that left an elderly man dead.
NBC 12 reports that two brothers, ages 10 and 14, turned themselves in after security footage captured a group of juveniles attacking the 73-year-old, identified as James Lambert. The victim’s family members reportedly said Lambert never bothered anyone and was friendly to those he met.
Sources told the outlet that the 14-year-old has been charged with third-degree murder while the 10-year-old was released. Police continue to work to identify the rest of the people involved.
“This is a very, very active investigation. Things are happening hour by hour,” District Attorney Larry Krasner said.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, security footage shows Lambert attempting to walk across Cecil B. Moore Avenue shortly before 3 a.m. on June 14. Seven teens – four boys and three girls – can be seen following Lambert, with one of the teens throwing the traffic cone at him from behind.
The force of the cone knocked Lambert to the ground, at which point a teen girl grabbed the cone and threw it again at the man. Lambert got up and attempted to flee from the attackers, but the same teenage girl again picked up the cone, chased the man, and hurled it at the victim.
Meanwhile, other teens in the group could be seen laughing and smiling, while one of the teens appeared to cover her mouth in apparent disbelief about what was happening. Another one of the teens appeared to be recording the incident on a phone.
Medics rushed the victim to a hospital, where he died the next day because of injuries from the attack.
Investigators believe the same group of teens later gathered again and mocked someone who appeared to be stumbling, according to the station.
Lambert’s niece, Tania Stephens, said she can’t comprehend the circumstances that led to her uncle’s death.
“I just don’t understand what’s going on in our city,” Stephens told Fox 29. “He’s walked that path for 60, 70 years of his life, and for his life to be snuffed out like that is just unbelievable.”
“Where were the parents?” she added. “I realize people have to work and people have to do what they do, but there should be some structure – apparently there isn’t any.”
The incident has so shaken Stephens that she said she is now afraid she could also be harmed.
“Today I walked my dog and there were three kids, and I was terrified,” Stephens told WTXF-TV.
As of Friday, police had not yet arrested any of the teens. A $20,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to their capture.
Anyone who encounters the teens is urged to call 911 immediately. To report information about the case, call the Philadelphia Police Department at 215-686-8477.
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[Featured image: Screenshot via NBC 10]
