Beating Caught On Camera Sparks Outrage On Social Media

WEST DEPTFORD, N.J., (CBS) -- A South Jersey town is now at the center of a social media uproar caused by a viral video showing the severe beating of a minor.

Police in West Deptford are now investigating the incident that was caught on camera and shared tens of thousands of times.

The police chief was called at 2:30 on Thursday morning because dispatchers were being overrun with calls regarding the video. Charges have not yet been filed, but investigators have made contact with the people seen in the video.

It is so brutal -- a minor suffering repeated blows to the head and kicks to the chest -- that West Deptford Police Chief Samuel Disimone almost thought it might have been staged.

"You look at think this can't be real because why would someone do something like this?"

"But, then we were able to speak to both parties involved and it's serious," he said.

The outrage that led him to being called in the middle of the night has also started a fire on Facebook, where a page has been dedicated to the incident.

In the video, the man can be heard telling the minor that quote, "I will destroy you," and that if he goes to the cops, he will be killed.

Police say the victim is safe and are asking those posting online to cease calls for retaliation.

"The most important part to me is that the juvenile is safe. He is not in danger any longer."

"Just give us time. Let us do our investigation. Let us come to our conclusions," Disimone said.

As for who stood by and took the video, "We are still trying to figure out who that is," Disimone said.

There are many questions that remain with all of this.

Charges have not been filed, but Eyewitness News is told that due to the language and violence it could include assault and terroristic threats.