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7 Teens Arrested in Viral Chicago Beating

By Cynthia Hsu, Esq. on January 19, 2012 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

Seven teens were arrested Wednesday for their part in the Chicago beating that went viral. The YouTube beating suspects include a 15-year-old girl, two 16-year-old boys, and three 15-year-old boys. Raymond Palomino, 17, was charged as an adult.

The rest were charged as juveniles. They all face counts of robbery and aggravated battery.

The brutal beating was filmed and uploaded onto YouTube. The video is more than three minutes long. The teens are shown punching and kicking the 17-year-old victim.

Most of the perpetrators wore hoods and masks, making it harder for police to identify the suspects.

The victim looked to be of Asian descent. Though, police do not believe the incident was a hate crime.

The teens stole the victim's shoes, wallet, and $180 in cash. The victim managed to run away and was treated at a local hospital for bruises and cuts.

Police declined to release the names most of the arrested teens. This is likely because they are charged as juveniles. The juvenile justice system is different than the adult system. Most of the time, records from juvenile cases are sealed.

Juveniles may also have the opportunity to have their criminal records expunged when they reach a certain age. In Illinois, individuals can have their juvenile records cleared even if they are convicted. However, there are certain restrictions. This includes maintaining a clean record after a person's 17th birthday.

The YouTube beating suspects were turned over to authorities. A judge set Palomino's bail at $100,000 at a hearing on Wednesday, reports the New York Daily News.

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