Potentially Fatal ‘Knockout’ Game Targeting Strangers May be Spreading

[lostinblue 1,989]

Potentially Fatal ‘Knockout’ Game Targeting Strangers May be Spreading by Chris Lingebach

WASHINGTON - A terrifying new ‘game’ that’s already caused deaths in Syracuse, St. Louis and New Jersey is sweeping the nation, and it preys upon unsuspecting people walking the streets, anywhere.

A recent report from New York-based CBS 2 shed light on the growing trend, displaying unsettling footage of teens participating in this game – which goes by the name ‘Knockout’ – and involves randomly targeting passersby, with the ultimate goal being to knock them out with one punch as they walk by.

One victim shown in the footage was 46-year-old Ralph Santiago of Hoboken, N.J., who was found dead with his neck broken and head lodged between iron fence posts, according to NJ.com.

Video surveillance shows Santiago walking in an alleyway in broad daylight, and just as he’s about to pass a pack of teenagers, one launches the fatal, knockout blow.

And what’s the point?

“For the fun of it,” one teen said in the video.

“They just want to see if you got enough strength to knock somebody out,” said another.

D.C. has not been spared of this violent trend.

One local woman, who was attacked on 14^th Street NW in Columbia Heights on Thursday, tells DCist.com she believes to have been a target of this game, as a group of around eight males on bikes came up behind her, with one hitting her in the head. According to the report, police categorized the attack as “simple assault.”

The woman tells the publication she believes others in the area should be on the lookout for similar types of attacks.

http://washington.cbslocal.com/2013/11/16/potentially-fatal-knockout-game-targeting-strangers-may-be-spreading-to-d-c/

[sara..... 371]

WOW seems each week there seems to be worse and worse behavior by undisciplined youths in our society .......and these are the people that will be deciding my future when im a senior.....pretty scary....

sara

[OnMyWayID 1,489]

It should be noted in the two most recent cases (new york and new jersey):

New York: The perpetrators were 13 and 15. They were unable to knock out the victim with a single blow and instead kicked him in the head until he died.

New Jersey: The perpetrators were 13, 13, and 14. The victim was a disabled homeless man who, when knocked down, fell between two iron posts and lodged his neck.

There have been three other victims: a 20 year old immigrant from Norway attending MIT, A 72 year old old Asian immigrant, and another 20 year old college student who was walking two women home

For all five of these crimes the perpetrators where caught (the most recent one still need to go to trial).

Edited November 17, 2013 by OnMyWayID

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Allowing all people to carry concealed handguns without the need for a government issued permit eliminates this.

No cases in Vermont. After dancing last night we went for a long walk late at night along the lakefront. No one was knocked out, punched assaulted, maimed or killed and it was a very nice evening for November. Incredible.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

Allowing all people to carry concealed handguns without the need for a government issued permit eliminates this.

No cases in Vermont. After dancing last night we went for a long walk late at night along the lakefront. No one was knocked out, punched assaulted, maimed or killed and it was a very nice evening for November. Incredible.

But you must remember it is frowned upon to shoot people who are trying to beat you to death

[lostinblue 1,989]

But you must remember it is frowned upon to shoot people who are trying to beat you to death

They will call you a racist also

[luckytxn 2,263]

I would hate to shoot and kill a kid because he was playing a game. If we must we must.

[Dakine10 5,452]

Allowing all people to carry concealed handguns without the need for a government issued permit eliminates this.

No cases in Vermont. After dancing last night we went for a long walk late at night along the lakefront. No one was knocked out, punched assaulted, maimed or killed and it was a very nice evening for November. Incredible.

It would stop some of them, maybe most of them, but it won't eliminate them. Nothing will. It wouldn't have eliminated this case. They targeted a homeless guy and then punched him in the back of the head. Even with concealed carry, homeless people are still going to be targeted by crapholes like this. They saw this guy as an easy target. In this case nobody else was around, and he didn't have a chance to defend himself. What could he have done?

These punks are the worst kind of cowards. Only cowards have the need to go around trying to prove how tough they are, and because they are cowards, they will prove how tough they are by picking on the weakest person they can find. It's not a new phenomenon. It's part of human nature and you can find examples of it as far back as recorded history goes.

[Dakine10 5,452]

I would hate to shoot and kill a kid because he was playing a game. If we must we must.

Better them than me. They're not they type of "kids" I would waste sympathy on.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

I would hate to shoot and kill a kid because he was playing a game. If we must we must.

Trying to knock me unconscious is not a game I choose to play

If I can the assailant is dead

It would stop some of them, maybe most of them, but it won't eliminate them. Nothing will. It wouldn't have eliminated this case. They targeted a homeless guy and then punched him in the back of the head. Even with concealed carry, homeless people are still going to be targeted by crapholes like this. They saw this guy as an easy target. In this case nobody else was around, and he didn't have a chance to defend himself. What could he have done?

These punks are the worst kind of cowards. Only cowards have the need to go around trying to prove how tough they are, and because they are cowards, they will prove how tough they are by picking on the weakest person they can find. It's not a new phenomenon. It's part of human nature and you can find examples of it as far back as recorded history goes.

Maybe he thought the homeless guys was following him, that would make it ok right?

[Dakine10 5,452]

Maybe he thought the homeless guys was following him, that would make it ok right?

I'm not really sure what you're asking, but if you are asking if I think he had a right to defend himself, of course.

I'm just saying the fact he got punched in the back of the head means he probably didn't even see them coming, or at the very least didn't suspect anything was going on. And I don't want to stereotype, but unless there is a program that hands out free guns to homeless people, I'm not sure that concealed carry would have help him in this specific instance. It may have made the punks think twice, but they are what they are. They picked on someone who was least likely to fight back.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I would hate to shoot and kill a kid because he was playing a game. If we must we must.

2nd to last thing I would want to do.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I'm not really sure what you're asking, but if you are asking if I think he had a right to defend himself, of course.

I'm just saying the fact he got punched in the back of the head means he probably didn't even see them coming, or at the very least didn't suspect anything was going on. And I don't want to stereotype, but unless there is a program that hands out free guns to homeless people, I'm not sure that concealed carry would have help him in this specific instance. It may have made the punks think twice, but they are what they are. They picked on someone who was least likely to fight back.

Even punks understand. You have to make it simple for them, but they understand. ANYone can carry a concealed handgun. Despite an international border known for drug smuggling, the highest rate of opiate addiction in the US and being a "the most liberal state" we can walk our streets safely because we can be armed. Even Canadians can carry concealed!

Unrestricted concealed carry elimates this behavior because ANYone can have a gun. You do not know if a homeless person has a gun...he doesn't need to pay for a home so maybe he can afford a cheap handgun. Fortunately we have successfully defeated laws which would have banned cheap handguns leaving poor people defenseless. You can still buy a Lorcin or a Sterling on the cheap. The guy next to him may have a gun andd cap you for it also. The use of deadly force extends to defending yourself from imminent bodily harm and also others around you.

Bottom line...where anyone can be armed, this will not happen. It will not happen from the front, from the back, from the side. No one will do it and no one will be shot for trying to do it. We can walk the street late at night and not be afraid of such nonsense. we are not going to eliminate it by shooting people, we are going to eliminate it by being ABLE to shoot people. We don;t have these assaults and we don;'t shoot people. I did not have a pleasant walk at the lakefront because I shot 2-3 people along the way. I had a pleasant walk because no one bothered us.

You are welcome to this BS in your state.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

It would stop some of them, maybe most of them, but it won't eliminate them. Nothing will. It wouldn't have eliminated this case. They targeted a homeless guy and then punched him in the back of the head. Even with concealed carry, homeless people are still going to be targeted by crapholes like this. They saw this guy as an easy target. In this case nobody else was around, and he didn't have a chance to defend himself. What could he have done?

These punks are the worst kind of cowards. Only cowards have the need to go around trying to prove how tough they are, and because they are cowards, they will prove how tough they are by picking on the weakest person they can find. It's not a new phenomenon. It's part of human nature and you can find examples of it as far back as recorded history goes.

I'll let you know when it happens in Vermont.

Don't hold your breath. We do not have drive by shootings, carjackings (are you kidding me?) and have NEVER had a police officer shot in the line of duty. Homicides each year can be counted on one hand and are almost always a result of domestic disputes or in ine case a drug deal. One was a hunting accident deemed "negligent" In other words, YOU can walk anywhere safely.

I agree they are cowards...which is why it won;t happen here. There is no way to tell who is the weakest person in Vermont. I mean what are the odds of a homeless person having a gun in your state compared to mine? In your state he has to apply, have a background check, go to a class and take a test and pay the fees. Here, you load the gun and put it in your pocket. We have less crime.

[Dakine10 5,452]

I'll let you know when it happens in Vermont.

Don't hold your breath. We do not have drive by shootings, carjackings (are you kidding me?) and have NEVER had a police officer shot in the line of duty. Homicides each year can be counted on one hand and are almost always a result of domestic disputes or in ine case a drug deal. One was a hunting accident deemed "negligent" In other words, YOU can walk anywhere safely.

I agree they are cowards...which is why it won;t happen here. There is no way to tell who is the weakest person in Vermont. I mean what are the odds of a homeless person having a gun in your state compared to mine? In your state he has to apply, have a background check, go to a class and take a test and pay the fees. Here, you load the gun and put it in your pocket. We have less crime.

I don't think the odds of a homeless person having a gun are that good period. That's my point. You may have less violent crime in Vermont, but you don't have zero crime. Certain demographics are more likely to be the target of this type of crime.