A group of aggressive juveniles reportedly pursued a college student at Philadelphia’s Temple University, attacking him inside a dormitory in an incident captured on video.
The attack took place around 2:50 a.m. on Sunday, as reported by the Temple University Police Department. The young assailants chased the student into Morgan Hall South, a residence building on campus.
“Once inside the building, the group assaulted the student and vandalized university property,” police detailed in their report.
The student, whose identity has not been disclosed, suffered minor injuries but opted not to seek medical attention on-site.
Among the damage inflicted by the group was a broken monitor at the dormitory’s security desk, according to ABC6’s coverage.
Authorities have shared surveillance images depicting at least nine teenage males involved in the incident. Some were seen wearing hoodies and masks, while others were identifiable in the footage.
No arrests have been made.
Investigators are working alongside safety officials from the School District of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Police Department and are urging the public to help identify those involved.
The circumstances that led to the attack at one of the campus’s largest dormitory complexes — which houses more than 1,200 students — remain under investigation.
Temple Police Deputy Chief Gaetano Sava told ABC6 the department takes incidents involving students and outside residents seriously.
“It’s concerning. Whenever our residents, I mean, we’re here for the safety of our residents and our students. So, when anybody is victimized, it’s concerning to us. We take it very seriously,” Sava said.
Investigators have also obtained a cellphone video of the attack, police said.
“Investigation is ongoing from the video, we have some still shots, and we’re hoping the community can help us identify,” Sava said.
Temple University sophomore Emanuel Turner said the attack has put things into “perspective” for him.
“It puts the threat actually into perspective because, especially knowing as a college student, your main priority is education, not really safety, but this happening is a little bit more in the forefront,” he told the outlet.
Police have ramped up patrols in the area following the incident and are urging students to take advantage of campus safety resources.
“We have a TU safety app, which is an app you can install on your telephone and request a walking escort. You can request a flight shuttle to basically give you a ride home,” Sava said.
Temple University sits in the heart of Philadelphia with roughly 30,000 students enrolled throughout the school year, according to its website.
