According to Fox News, two of the girls were charged with aggravated battery while the third girl was charged with mob action. Chicago Police Lt. Ozzie Valdez said in a statement that the girls, ages 13, 14, and 15, were charged as juveniles. They were arrested Wednesday night after turning themselves in with their parents Wednesday night and two girls appeared in juvenile court Thursday morning. The 14-year-old was ordered to wear an electronic monitoring device after being released to her mother. Her mother condemned her daughter’s actions and says she was influenced by the older teens in their neighborhood.
The 15-year-old suspect was also court-ordered to wear an electronic monitoring device. The video involving the three teens shows them hitting Janise Harris,15, and laughing while she screamed as she tried to get away from them. Onlookers in the video also laughed as the girls continued to terrorize Harris.
The video was uploaded Monday and went viral on Twitter after one of the victim’s friends asked people to share the video under the hashtag #JusticeForJanise. Harris allegedly was attacked by the girls after she refused to participate in various sexual acts.
Shortly after the assault, Harris was missing from her home for days and was found Tuesday evening. She was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said in a statement that he hopes the charges will be a “teachable moment” for the three girls.
“Actions depicted in the video are difficult to watch to say the least and I hope that they become a teachable moment for not only these young individuals but actually for all of us. Hate, bullying and bigotry are cancers of our society that do nothing but break and divide us.”
The three teens took to social media to apologize for their reckless actions.
https://twitter.com/oompaass/status/1153626222779392006?s=21
