A middle-Georgia Wal-Mart suffered significant damages following what police say was a mob-like attack by local teenagers. At least one teen has been arrested on criminal charges related to the incident, although everyone involved possibly came from the same location. According to a Wal-Mart estimate, the damage totaled about $2,000.
Police report that surveillance cameras captured nearly 50 teenagers entering the Wal-Mart location at approximately 1:50 a.m. Those involved in the incident allegedly began to throw, smash and otherwise damage merchandise throughout the store. Some of the teens have also been accused of pulling a man off of the electric shopping cart that he was riding and pushing him onto the floor. The teens dispersed after the police came and the incident ended.
When one of the teenagers returned to the location to find a cellphone that he left behind, police arrested him. He was identified as the teen who was apparently leading the others into the store, and the boy later conceded to his parents that he had indeed been involved. Police say that he and the other teens had gone directly from a party to Wal-Mart with the intent to administer as much damage as they could, but the police have no other names of who might have been involved.
The 17-year-old boy in custody is facing criminal charges for his alleged role inciting and participating in a riot, while additional charges include second-degree property damage. However, no matter anyone’s opinion of the Georgia teen or any criminal behavior that he might have engaged in, the law demands that he still be treated as innocent during the remainder of any criminal investigation or court procedures. As such, his rights as an innocent individual must be upheld while the prosecution bears the burden of proving that every aspect of his charges are valid and true.
Source: macon.com, “Report: Macon Wal-Mart mob wanted to see how much damage it could do”, Joe Kovac Jr., June 29, 2015
