A surprising new video captures a moment when a small group of young individuals, known as the Purp crew, came together with two NYPD officers in bustling Times Square, right around the time officers announced the arrest of the fifth immigrant teenager involved in the chaos.
According to law enforcement sources, officers noticed a youthful suspect attempting to rob a young man at the busy intersection of West 42nd and 8th Avenues on Friday evening and moved in to intervene.
As police got involved, they quickly became targets of the young crowd. A video clip shows items being thrown in their direction amidst the chaos.
Among the projectiles were umbrellas and baseballs, as reported by police.
Those arrested so far include a notable 12-year-old, described as a mastermind. Authorities believe this group has connections to a Venezuelan gang called Tren de Lagua, linked through a school-age crew known as Diablos de La 42, or “Devils of 42nd Street.”
The cheeky youth displayed gang signs, shared photos online, and was handcuffed at a police precinct in Manhattan following an attack on officers, as indicated by images circulating.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tish announced on Tuesday that a 16-year-old repeat offender was the fifth immigrant teen arrested.
She emphasized that the department’s gang database, which the city council is looking to eliminate, played a crucial role in identifying several young offenders swiftly after the altercation on Friday night.
Tish remarked that the council’s attempt to dismantle the database “completely denies common sense,” during a press briefing.
Later, the NYPD shared images of three additional youths believed to be between 15 and 20 years old.
