Three teenagers have been arrested and charged for allegedly beating and robbing a man in the frozen food aisle of a Northeast Philadelphia Pathmark supermarket Saturday in a brutal attack that was caught on surveillance video. Investigators reportedly tracked them down after they allegedly uploaded a YouTube video of the attack and bragged about it on Twitter as a game of “catching wreck.” Those communications have since been removed from the social media sites.
Kevin Tavarez, 17, Tomas Eanes, 18, and Jose Ruiz, 17, are charged with conspiracy, robbery, assault, receiving stolen property, theft and reckless endangerment, according to the District Attorney’s Office. Tavarez faces an additional charge of making terroristic threats Both he and Ruiz have been charged as adults.
All three of the teens will be arraigned later today. Investigators say that the three men, along with a fourth suspect who has not yet been identified, hit a 47-year-old man with a glass bottle as he was grocery shopping inside the store shortly before 10 p.m. and kicked and punched him after he fell to the ground. They then allegedly stole a money clip containing $100 from the victim.
Police are still looking for the fourth suspect in the assault, described as a Hispanic female with dark hair that comes to her mid-back who was last seen wearing a red coat and jeans.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Northeast Detective Division at 215-686-3153 or 3154, or to submit an anonymous tip via telephone by dialing 215-686-TIPS (8477), texting PPD TIP (773847) or by filling out this online form.
