A teen riding a Citi Bike pounded on two Jewish children that ended up in the bike rider’s path as they played on a Brooklyn sidewalk, police said Friday.
Cops are investigating the caught-on-camera Sunday night attack as a hate crime, police said.
The victims, ages 13 and 11, were running around and playing tag with about a dozen other children on Franklin Ave. near Myrtle Ave. in Clinton Hill about 9 p.m. when the teen on the Citi Bike rolled down the block.
The children were apparently in the bike rider’s way, cops said.
“Get off the sidewalk!” the teen screamed at the children as he rolled past, a police source with knowledge of the case said.
The teen left the area, then returned to the spot where the children were playing, cops said.
Disturbing video footage showing the perpetrator assaulting and beating kids on Franklin Avenue on Sunday night. @NYPD79Pct @NYPDBklynNorth pic.twitter.com/Fiwh8F7NQp
— Williamsburg 365 News (@Williamsburg365) May 15, 2024
Surveillance footage of the incident posted by Williamsburg365 News on Twitter shows the teen, still sitting on the Citi Bike but now in the street next to a row of cars, watching the children play.
He then gets off the bike and slowly walks over to the group, cops said.
Many of the children get out of the teen’s way as he zeroes in on his 13-year-old victim and shoves to the ground with one outstretched hand, the video shows.
The teen appears to be heading back to his bike when he sees the 11-year-old boy. The teen runs over, puts the child in a headlock and shoves him to the ground, where he begins kicking and stomping him, the video shows.
The rest of the children scatter during the assault. As the teen walks back to his bike, the child he stomped gets up and runs away.
Witnesses called 911. EMS treated the injured children at the scene.
The NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating the incident.
NYPD detectives collected additional surveillance footage of the teen rolling down the sidewalk. Cops released the footage Friday in the hopes that someone recognizes the teen.
Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is urged to call NYPD Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.
