GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (June 19, 2014) — A brutal attack on the streets of downtown Grand Rapids was captured on a video that surfaced on social media and is now a key piece of evidence in a police investigation.
The assault took place happened Tuesday night near Rosa Parks Circle.
On the same night just a few hours later, two teenagers were shot nearby outside Buffalo Wild Wings on Ionia Avenue.
Last weekend, shots were fired outside McFadden’s Bar.
This is a trend of violence that police are not taking lightly. Night patrols were increased, and investigators looking for additional suspects tied to the crimes. Those suspects coming from cell phone video turned into police by a witness to the attack at Rosa Parks Circle.
Three people have already been arrested since the assault, but police are hoping three more will be under arrest soon.
The cell phone video of the attack lasts only 15 seconds, but Capt. Curt Vanderkooi with the Grand Rapid Police Department said it contains a lot of information and has helped police identify three more suspects wanted for assault.
What is disturbing is the attack appeared unprovoked, Capt. Vanderkooi said. The assault happened around 8:00 p.m. June 17, and police are still trying to figure out why dozens of teens ages 15 to 18 were gathering in that area in the first place.
“The incident involved a group of people,” said Vanderkooi. “Out of this group emerges three or four suspects who assault another person who was walking through.”
Vanderkooi said an officer just happened to be patrolling the area at the time of the fight. The officer’s presence is likely the reason the crowd left before anyone was seriously hurt.
As that officer was taking one person into custody, two teenage girls attempted to intervene. Vanderkooi said those two girls were also arrested for hindering the officer’s arrest.
If you recognize the people seen in the video please call Grand Rapids Police at (616) 456-3604 or Silent Observer at (616) 774-2345.
Police are still working to determine if the fight had anything to do with the shooting that took place four hours later at Buffalo Wild Wings. No arrests have been made in that shooting, which left two teens in critical but stable condition.
