A Dorchester store manager who witnessed an “unbelievable” attack by a group of young teenagers on a man and woman waiting for the bus at the corner of Erie and Washington streets Monday night said Wednesday that the youths overwhelmed the pair as the man tried to protect the woman.
“Incredible,” said the manager, who declined to give his name because he feared for his safety. “It’s impossible here.”
Police arrested seven girls ages 13 to 16 years old and two 16-year-old males on charges including assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, unarmed robbery, and assault and battery on a public employee.
Pleas of “not delinquent” were entered on their behalf at their arraignment Tuesday. Clerk Katie Barkowski imposed bails ranging from personal recognizance to $1,000 and orders to stay away from the victims and codefendants.
Jake Wark, a spokesman for the Suffolk district attorney’s office, said the attack was sudden and that the victims and alleged assailants did not exchange words beforehand.
Boston police said that the woman victim and her male friend were waiting for their bus around 9:35 p.m. Monday when a teenage girl attacked the woman, kicking her and knocking her into a fence. The woman, whom authorities have not identified because she is the victim of a crime, was then surrounded by a group of 10 to 15 young people and assaulted again by the teenage girl. A teenage boy grabbed her purse and stole several items out of it, police said.
The man, whom police also did not name, intervened, and the woman made it to a store to call for help while the group of teenagers assaulted the man, police said.
The store manager said he saw the woman running toward his door surrounded by teenagers, and she opened the door crying out for help. But as she tried to enter, the store manager said, the teenagers yanked her back out by her hair and hit her in the face.
The man was trying to pull the teenagers off the woman, the store owner said, but he was attacked from behind and beaten.
The store manager said he called 911. While the group of teenagers was made up of boys and girls, he said, it was the girls who were the most violent. Large groups of young people, ranging in age from around 7 years old to teenagers, often shoplift from his store, he said.
Police said that one of the teenagers spit in officers’ faces as she was being booked.
On Wednesday, neighborhood residents said they were shocked to hear about the attack.
“It’s scary, you know? It’s not safe anywhere now,” said Miguel Castro as he walked down Washington Street past the bus stop.
Rosemary Angeles, who was waiting at the bus stop and who had just moved to Dorchester from Florida, said she would no longer allow her children to take the bus alone at night.
“I’ve heard the area is not the greatest,” she said.
Must not be part of Bo$ton.
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