Illinois authorities said a viral social media trend led 11 teenagers to lure and beat two men in a Chicago suburb. Back in July, 10 17-year-olds and one 16-year-old found their victims using online dating apps.
The Mount Prospect Police Department said a 41-year-old man told officers he planned to meet someone he connected with online. Once he arrived at a parking lot in a Chicago suburb, he said a group of teenage boys beat him and damaged his car. According to investigators, the man was able to escape the ambush and report the incident to officers.
Around 10 minutes later, police responded to another assault call roughly a mile away. In that case, a 23-year-old man said a group of teenagers assaulted him before he fled. Mount Prospect police said the victim also used an app to meet someone, but instead, the juveniles ambushed him and slashed his tires.
The months-long investigation turned up surveillance video of one of the attacks, which enabled law enforcement to identify multiple people involved. Authorities said the teens participated in one or both of the attacks.
Police said the incidents should serve as a point of conversation for parents and their children.
“An opportunity to talk with their teenage children about the seriousness of actively participating in these types of trends they see on social media.”
Statement by Police Chief Michael Eterno
Illinois police did not say what the trend is called or if any other cases were reported to the authorities.
Investigators said all of the teens turned themselves in after authorities announced the charges in November. The group is facing various felonies, including aggravated battery, property damage and mob action. Some of the teens are also facing hate crime charges due to racial slurs and derogatory terms used during the attacks.
Authorities point to TikTok as a source of the trend. They say the platform is where people upload videos of the crimes, and there are multiple reported cases across the U.S. Many of the victims who come forward identify as members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Teens in Australia are also reportedly participating in similar crimes. Groups will use a dating app to lure men to a location and beat them when they arrive. Authorities said the teens will often record themselves attacking the victim and robbing them.
Police have not released the names of the dating apps associated with these crimes.
