JONESBORO, Ark. – Two juveniles were attacked Wednesday night at Target in Jonesboro and the mother of one of the children is demanding justice in a viral social media post.
NEA Report obtained video through a records request from JPD of the incident. It shows what appears to be a completely unprovoked attack, with the two juvenile suspects sucker punching the unsuspecting teens.
The Jonesboro Police Department took the report, which details the incident happening after 9:17 PM on March 27 at Target, 3000 East Highland Drive. The police report is mostly masked due to both the open investigation and juvenile involvement. However, the report says two suspects, 14 and 16 years of age, punched the two victims, both 14-years old. The attack was reportedly unprovoked.
The mother of one of the children detailed more in her viral Facebook post. Allison Young wrote that she had taken her child and one of his friends to Target to grab Easter eggs. They were in the store for only about ten minutes when Young heard some yelling and noticed a man running, with her boys chasing after him. Her son had blood running down his face. Her son’s friend said they were jumped.
Young’s Facebook post speculated that they were targeted because they were white and that it was gang-related. JPD’s Sally Smith told NEA Report they have no evidence substantiating that it was a race-related or gang-related. However, new evidence would prompt police to reconsider.
Young’s Facebook post says that both boys have concussions. Her son has broken brackets to his braces as well. The attacks and the injuries described appear to be misdemeanor battery.
However, the Jonesboro Police Department appears to be taking the case very seriously. Police cited the open investigation status on Friday when not releasing the full incident report to NEA Report. That is atypical for a misdemeanor-only report.
The suspects have been questioned, Smith told NEA Report. There may be arrests to come in the case. It is expected these will go through the juvenile department, meaning it is unlikely the media will learn of further updates.
JPD addressed the incident on Facebook in a post Friday:
On March 27, 2024, JPD Officers responded to a disturbance at 3000 E. Highland Drive.
Upon arrival, officers located two male juvenile victims and gathered information on the events that took place. Both victims reported that they were attacked and received injuries during an altercation within the store. The suspects had already left the scene. Officers gathered video evidence and, with the assistance of school resource officers, made identification of the 14 and 16-year-old suspects by the following morning. The two suspects are facing charges of Battery- 3rd Degree/ Purpose of Causing Injury.
At this time, there is no evidence to substantiate this is racially motivated or gang-related. This investigation is ongoing, and charges will be filed through the Craighead County Juvenile Department.
After we published this article, NEA Report did a second story with Allison Young about the incident. Click the link below to read more:
Target Victim’s Mom Discusses Attack, Viral Post, and the Response
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Can you advise what school the arrested teens attended, if it’s truly race or gang related I would want to know what the school is doing to protect students in the future especially is my kids go there.
We had law and order in this country until Obama was elected president then he told everyone they should disobey the law and to disrespect police officers because they were racist that is what a Marxist does to try and overthrow government just look at what shape America is in now. Obama and the Democrats ruined this country!
It is not easy to do but each person needs to try to live his/her own life without making rash judgments about someone else. Live each day taking care of your own self, family, and friends. Do not do or say anything to anyone else that you wouldn’t want said or done to you or yours.
Give others the benefit of doubt and hold your tongue, be gracious, when someone needs to vent—or share an upsetting situation. Care about and be kind to your neighbor no matter what color he is.