In a troubling incident in Boston, researchers from Harvard found themselves attacked by a group of rowdy teenagers after they asked the teens to keep their voices down during a movie screening.
Thiago Lenz, a 35-year-old researcher originally from Brazil, was at AMC Boston Common 19 early Thursday morning watching the horror film “Weapons.”
“They were disrupting the film, clapping and yelling throughout,” Lenz remarked. “We simply asked them to be respectful. We just wanted to enjoy the movie.”
As Lenz attempted to exit the theater, the group blocked his way. “They formed a wall,” he explained, emphasizing that he tried to leave, but they wouldn’t let him pass.
“My friend was screaming for help,” he added, recounting how the teens assaulted him. “I didn’t retaliate. I was scared, just trying to shield my face, but they aimed for my head.”
Post-attack photos of Lenz reveal severe damage to his left eye, blood covering his mouth, and blood on his hands.
“It was unfair, five against one,” he expressed.
After the incident, Lenz’s friend called for help, and the assailants fled the scene. She eventually located a security guard who then alerted the authorities, as detailed by the news outlet.
The Boston police arrived around 12:45 AM after the theater closed. A police report indicated that Lenz suffered minor facial injuries.
“Public harassment is unacceptable… It’s ludicrous. We clearly need more security presence,” Lenz stated.
He’s also working on ensuring that security camera footage is reviewed to identify one of the attackers, who, although dressed in black, revealed his face.
“We need these individuals held accountable,” he declared.
This violent episode reflects a broader trend of increasing teenage aggression.
In May, a group viciously assaulted two girls at Queen’s Park with baseball bats. In an alarming video, one of the victims was even seen having her head shaved, which relatives described as a near “execution” attempt.
Earlier that same month, a large crowd of youths created chaos in New Jersey malls, allegedly organized through TikTok, resulting in the arrest of seven minors.
In response, several businesses have enacted “teen chaperone policies” aimed at reducing youth crime.
For instance, at a location in Ohio, anyone over 21 must be accompanied by an adult, guardian, or parent, as noted in their posted policy.
Meanwhile, a Target in Brooklyn has also prohibited minors under 18 from shopping without adult supervision.
Furthermore, a McDonald’s in Brooklyn has begun requiring client identification cards, banning anyone under 20 from entering without a parent or legal guardian.
