A disturbing attack out of Windsor that saw a teen punch, threaten and bully a 19-year-old with special needs is being investigated by police.
The incident, captured on a video that quickly went viral on Facebook, unfolded on Wyandotte Street East in downtown Windsor on Nov. 8 at around 5.p.m
In it, a group of teens approach the young woman and begin pushing and shoving her repeatedly while trying to instigate a fight. At one point, the victim cowers against a brick wall and is incessantly taunted for crying.
Police in Windsor said the victim sustained minor injuries as a result.
“It’s obviously a disturbing video that's raised many concerns in the community and rightfully so. It’s a difficult video to watch,” Windsor Police Const. Andrew Drouillard said.
The mother of the 19-year-old victim describes her daughter as having special needs. She said her daughter is doing fine, but she’s upset and hurt that passersby didn’t try to intervene.
“I don’t understand why nobody stopped. If I was driving by and saw something like that, I would stop and maybe try to do something,” the victim’s mother, who does not want to be identified, told CTV News Windsor through tears.
The video sparked widespread backlash on social media where perturbed viewers began to hurl threats against the attackers.
Residents who saw the video of the attack describe the incident as “sickening” and “just wrong.”
Windsor Police Service said they have identified each person in the video and are now trying to determine what sort of role each one of them played in the attack. According to CTV News Windsor, police are advising members of the public to refrain from contacting individuals believed to be involved as the Windsor Police Youth Crime Branch is also investigating the incident.
Police also said that criminal charges have not yet been ruled out.
They added that one of the attackers has since posted a lengthy apology on Facebook.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any new information is being asked to call police at 519-255-6700, ext. 4396 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 519-258-8477 (TIPS).
