The family of a Pennsylvania man who, according to authorities, died after being attacked by a group of young teens in Philadelphia is searching for answers in the disturbing assault that was caught on camera.
According to authorities, 72-year-old Samuel Lambert was attacked by at least two teens in a group of seven on the 2100 block of Cecil B. Moore Avenue around 2:30 a.m. in late June.
In a surveillance video shared by the Philadelphia Police Department, two members of the group are seen hitting Lambert in the head with objects, including a traffic cone.
The video also appears to show one of the group members using a cellphone to record the attack as it was happening.
Investigators say the elderly victim was knocked to the ground and was later rushed to the hospital where he died from blunt force trauma to the head the following day.
“I just don’t understand what’s going on in our city,” said Tania Stephens, who is Lambert’s niece. “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”
Speaking at a press conference on Friday afternoon about the deadly attack, Homicide Captain Jason Smith estimated that the suspects, four boys and three girls, are between the ages of 13-17.
The department urged the parents or caretakers of the teens to contact a lawyer and then come forward to the police.
“Where were the parents? 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,” Stephens said.
Meanwhile, the deadly attack on Samuel has left Stephens shaken and fearful that she could also be targeted by a group of violent youths.
“Today I walked my dog and there were three kids, and I was terrified,” Stephens told FOX 29 reporters. The Philadelphia Police Department is offering a $20k reward for information about the wanted teens.
The deadly attack comes amid a rise in crime amongst teenagers in Philadelphia and as the city implements a citywide curfew for kids and teenagers under the age of 18.
