NEW YORK—Police say 10 teenagers who went to a party in a New York City public housing complex ended up at hospitals after someone tossed a caustic substance on them from above.
Authorities were investigating on Sunday, May 5, after the injuries Saturday night in a courtyard off Third Street in Manhattan’s East Village.
The victims range in age from 15 to 18 and reported burns or irritation to their skin.
Police don’t yet know where the substance—possibly drain cleaner or something similar—was thrown from.
Valerie Vail told The New York Times that her daughter suffered coin-sized burns on her back, chest, and arms. Her daughter is a highschool sophomore.
Teenagers had been partying at a public housing complex in Manhattan’s East Village when someone threw an acid-like substance from up above, burning 10 of the partygoers https://t.co/zE7VTcmqjf
— The New York Times (@nytimes) May 6, 2019
The newspaper says residents had called police to complain about noise from the large party.
Chemical Bomb Thrown at Officer
Five people were arrested in connection with a chemical bomb thrown at a police officer and a resident in Arvada, Colorado on April 6.
“Multiple arrests have been made reference the chemical device used against law enforcement and a citizen,” Arvada police tweeted the day after the incident. “We want to thank our amazing community for the outpouring of support we received.”
Within 24 hours of the attack, Maxwell McCann, 18; Braiden Ulmer, 19; Isaac Koch, 19; Gavin Dawson, 19; and an unnamed juvenile were arrested, reported 9News. They face charges of:
- first-degree assault,
- criminal attempt of second-degree assault,
- two counts of possession, use, or removal of explosives or incendiary devices,
- conspiracy to commit possession, use, or removal of explosives or incendiary devices
According to the arrest affidavit, a crumpled Walmart receipt found near the scene led them to the suspects, 9News reported. Two Arvada detectives found the receipt, which led them to a surveillance video showing the suspects buying bottled water, chlorine treatment for swimming pools, brake fluid, and plastic wrap.
The affidavit says the suspects were seen leaving in a silver Volkswagen, and four of them were in the same vehicle when it was pulled over shortly after the crime, KDVR reported. Police had set up a perimeter around the scene, temporarily stopping them to take a picture of their drivers’ licenses before initially letting them go.
The teens are due in court on Friday.
Walmart receipt helped nab teen suspects in ‘chemical bomb’ attack on Arvada officer https://t.co/PI28Ub2LqW pic.twitter.com/VtonaQB9Fg
— FOX31 Denver KDVR (@KDVR) April 12, 2019
Epoch Times reporter Margaret Wollensak contributed to this report.
