VIDEO: 12 teens beat man, fire guns at Cleveland gas station, Cuyahoga County prosecutor says

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – 12 juveniles, between the ages of 13 and 17, are behind bars for allegedly viciously attacking an innocent man at a gas station on the city’s East side earlier this week.

Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O’Malley said several of the suspects also fired their weapons in the parking lot of the gas station and down St. Clair Avenue. An RTA bus was driving down the street during the shooting, said O’Malley.

This happened at the Shell Gas Station at East 140th Street and St. Clair Avenue around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday.

The suspects, nine boys and three girls, arrived at the gas station in three stolen vehicles. All the vehicles were stolen on July 24.

O’Malley said the victim was doing nothing but “sitting next to a gas station minding his own business” when the suspects started kicking and beating him. O’Malley added the suspects did not know the victim.

The 34-year-old victim received medical care, but is OK, said O’Malley. “He is lucky to be alive,” added O’Malley.

Cleveland police arrested the juveniles within two hours of the crime after a resident called 911 to report screams coming from a home n a nearby neighborhood.

The juveniles were found hiding throughout the basement of the house and two had loaded firearms on them, said police.

O’Malley said several of the suspects are also involved in other violent crimes in Cleveland’s neighborhoods; including, one boy who is accused in an unrelated homicide.

“This brutal attack and use of guns is just one horrific recent example of the rising violence we have seen this summer,” said Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb. “As I’ve previously stated, we are using the full weight of the law to hold criminals accountable and put them on notice that these actions will not be tolerated. I thank our police officers for their dedication and hope that this, combined with the announcement of my RISE initiative last week, will help restore peace to our city.”

Cleveland City Councilman Michael Polensek called the suspects “urban terrorists.”

“We are not going to live like this. I don’t care who we have to bring in, we have to bring the worst off the streets. Where the hell are the parents? When is the last time a parent was held accountable? The juvenile system is broken in this county,” said Polensek.

“We are sick and tired. We are no longer going to allow these individuals to wreak havoc on our neighborhoods,” said Cleveland City Councilman Anthony Hairston.

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