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paul’s journal

Getting beaten by a Gang in Buffalo

· · 🌡️ 23°F

More reasons that I am thinking I need to buy a gun or tazer. Does anyone else think these sound very related and scary? If I see any gang of 10 men I am running. The first victim was only 15. It seems so even freakier that the guy form the second story wouldn't even file a complaint.

Teen beaten, robbed while waiting at downtown bus stop
A 15-year-old boy told Buffalo police he was approached by a group of 10 males and attacked while standing at a downtown bus stop Monday evening.

The incident happened at about 6:30 p.m. at Washington and South Division streets, according to a Buffalo police report.

The victim told police one of the males in the group asked him if he had any money, then punched and kicked him in the head and face causing swelling and bleeding from his lip and nose.

The attackers took his wallet, which contained $3 in cash and various papers, according to the report.

The boy was transported to Women and Children's Hospital by Rural/Metro Medical Services.


South Buffalo man jumped, beaten by gang
A South Buffalo man suffered a possible broken elbow and was knocked unconscious when he was jumped by seven to 10 people Sunday night.

The victim, who also suffered cuts to his head and hand, was jumped just after 9:30 p.m. at Exchange and Selkirk streets, according to a Buffalo police report.

He refused medical treatment at the scene, and told police he could not identify any of the attackers and would not file a complaint.


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💬 14 comments

  1. tinypliny ·

    !!!!!!
    I am speechless. Can you please take me with you when you get a tazer?!!

    Are these news snippets for real???
    6:30 PM and NO ONE REPORTED IT OR CARED?? Is this happening in DOWNTOWN where I frequently wait for buses???! Are these victims known to these gangs?? Why would ANYONE assault a KID for $3??!! Would they also commit murder and rape for $3??!

    Is anyone listening and investigating these reports????!!!

  2. fellyconnelly ·

    maybe there weren't enough 'spy on buffalo' cameras up along that street...

  3. paul ·

    I think Tazers are illegal. I was going to buy one when in California but I didn't want to get in toruble flying home. I think you can drive to PA and buy one.

  4. theli ·

    I understand the fear. But I'm not really sure about the hyperbole...
    1. They probably didn't even know that it was just $3.
    2. One incidence, or even a couple, does not make an epidemic.
    3. Some fuckers just think its cool to be able to get away with this shit. The possibility of a few months in jail doesn't much matter. And if they can get a few people to overreact and cause a lot of shit to go down, then probably all the better.
    4. The ages of these guys aren't mentioned. I have my own suspicions that they were a bunch of high school pricks, or just out of. They may be minors themselves and feel that they can get away with it.
    5. That south buffalo guy probably doesn't live in a good neighborhood and he knows it. It's probably his own fear that made him avoid filing a complaint, sadly.

    Final: No, none of this excuses anyone with regards to what happened. But letting your fear take over you just plays into what these guys are trying to do.

    When I was younger, I actually got jumped once by a similar number of even younger guys. It was a lot later. And in a lot worse of a neighborhood. But I got through it mostly unscathed with some messed up clothes, a lost jacket, and $100 still in my pocket.

    Yeah, I was a stupid kid. And a lucky one. Anyway...

    I think it's better to give an appropriate response to this. Somehow make sure that the police follow up on it. Encourage basic policies that reduce crime in general. And those that help get people out of poverty. And do what you can to keep yourself safe. Just don't give these pricks more credit than they deserve. They broke the law. And hopefully they'll get caught. But if not, hearing about some kind of overreaction is probably just going to give them more of the thrills they're looking for.

  5. zobar ·

    If he refused medical treatment, could not identify any of the attackers, and wouldn't file a complaint, my bet is he's a drug dealer.

    - Z

  6. janelle ·

    You're dead on, Zobar. One of the interesting things learned in my studies of criminal justice is that many times (not always) the victims of crimes are people involved in a criminal lifestyle. Being involved in a criminal lifestyle substantially increases the likelihood that you will be victimized.

    I don't sweat it too much when I read those stories of someone on Elmwood avenue getting mugged for $200 (or some absurd amount of money), because I know chances are good the individual is a known drug dealer, pimp, or some other person whose known to carry money on his person b/c of his criminal activities.

    I've only been nervous once on Elmwood and that's when some guy trying to bum bus far grabbed my hand and paid too much attention to a ring with diamonds that I was wearing. But I just walked away and took a few looks over my shoulder to make sure he wasn't following me.

  7. libertad ·

    Take it from someone who was nearly stabbed on Elmwood while I was working, you can be an innocent victim of these attacks. Also, I would not press charges against the people who attacked me because I was so afraid that if I had done so they would find me and kill me.

    When people have to wait for buses they put themselves at a higher risk than those who drive everywhere they need to go. You also could refuse medical treatment because you don't have any insurance and don't want to be slamned with thousands of dollars worth of medical bills just so somebody in the E.R could put a bandaid on you. You could both be right that it was somebody on drugs but I have been attacked several times and I am sure it had nothing to do with drugs.

  8. janelle ·

    It would be impossible for anyone to disagree with you Libertad that innocent people do get attacked. The youth in those reports very well could have been completely innocent. I think Zobar and I are just trying to put things in perspective so people don't have this overwhelming and often unnecessary fear of victimization.

    While being involved in criminal activity increases your chance of being victimized, it certainly does not mean the reverse that all victims are involved in criminal activity.

    People in the 'burbs read articles about crime in the city and are scared to ever step foot in the city when realistically they are unlikely to be in the places, times, and situations that have the highest chances of leading to victimization.

    I just hate to think that people read these stories and then think that the next time they step foot out of their door, they're next.

  9. janelle ·

    I meant to add:

    I agree that waiting for busses probably does put you at a higher risk and I'm sorry you've experienced it first hand!

  10. matthew ·

    Well put @janelle.

  11. tinypliny ·

    Great points and thanks for writing them out. I agree that undue panic is not in order but at the same time I live by the rule that being forewarned is always being forearmed. It would be slightly foolhardy to assume that you are not next. I agree that this is bad reputation for the city and not good for its economy, tourism etc. but complacence about these sort of events would be a mistake because it would encourage law-enforcers to not follow it up. If enough concern is raised, there is a better likelihood that more cameras would be put up, and arrests would be made. I am aware of all the discussion and wrath heaped on cameras recently, but if having cameras means that I can worry a little less about being assaulted on the street and no one being there to witness it, I am FOR as many cameras they can get. I am also aware of the arguments that cameras don't make a difference statistically. Well, they may not make a dent in the crime stats, but they make a huge psychological difference to the people who are actually likely to become victims of such attacks. Its unfair that people who zoom by in cars and rarely spend any significant amount of time on the street pass oh-so-mighty judgements on how a camera is so insulting to their neighbourhood and how its a waste of money etc. etc. The camera to me counts as an effort and every effort counts because it makes me feel safer.

  12. metalpeter ·

    Yes sometimes someone being attacked is because of some criminal element, but sometimes it is because a bunch of punk kids get real tough when they are together. Sometimes it is a gang. It all depends on the circumstances. Finding the people and pressing charges is all well and good everything, but see that can bring other problems. Like then if you go to court then they have a lawyer and records that say where you live. In terms of the second case it is very possible that the guy didn't want to go the hospital because he had drugs on him, or maybe no money to get fixed up anyways. I'm guessing he know who attacked him and he knows not to say anything, because they would get him back or his family or his home, they live in the same area so saying something could be very dangerous, I'm guessing.

  13. paul ·

    Oh look I wasn't being an alarmist - it happend again and this time it was much worse @gardenmama #47097

  14. tinypliny ·

    I agree. It's time to change work hours and come home early.

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