Four Young Boys ID'd After SEPTA Outburst Caught On Video
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- SEPTA police say a group of children were not on a subway train for very long and it is unclear what provoked the incident that was captured on video.
The video has been shared over 1,000 times and the SEPTA police chief says it is outrageous.
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The video depicts vulgar language from several very young aggressors while riding on the subway.
"When you watch that video as a parent, as a human being you are alarmed for the well-being of those children," said SEPTA Police Chief Thomas Nestel.
The video, which was from an incident the evening of March 24, shows what police say are four boys, likely just 6-7-years old, cursing hitting and at one point even spitting at a passenger.
Police say the boys, and an aunt to two of them, got on at 2nd and Market and got off at York and Dauphin.
In the video, you hear the other passengers ask the adult of the group if she's going to intervene.
As the group hops off the train, the aunt says to the kids, "You're not allowed to speak that way. Go!"
The alleged victim, Patrick Coyle, posted the video on Facebook and wrote that he started recording after the kids allegedly slapped another woman.
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"I have never seen anything like that with children of that age," said Alex Frick, a SEPTA rider who saw the video.
Their young ages are what have SEPTA police so concerned. The four boys have been identified and police are assisting them with social services.
"This isn't a case where it's 6:00 in the morning and when we identify them, we're going to be breaking down their door and dragging them out in little handcuffs," Nestel explained. "The goal is to get them help."
Nestel says they have tried to reach the victims, but haven't heard back.
