Chicago: Woman bashed by mob of teens in distressing video

A young woman who was brutally dragged to the ground and bashed with her boyfriend by a mob of rampaging youths in a horrific attack caught on video has spoken out about the incident.

The woman named Ashley, 20, spoke to Fox News alongside her boyfriend DJ, 22, on Tuesday, after footage of the attack outside of a residential apartment building in downtown Chicago went viral on social media.

The video was shared by local news outlet CWBChicago on Monday, linking it to a violent “teen takeover” of the city over the weekend in which up to 1000 out-of-control rioters set cars on fire, assaulted and robbed people, clashed with police and destroyed property.

“We were just downtown in Chicago trying to shop, trying to get some food, and we were walking down the street and there was a really big group of guys and girls,” Ashley told Fox News.

“DJ had my hand and he was trying to lead me through the crowd of people and they pushed him, they pushed me, and as soon as soon as they pushed me, I told DJ, I said, ‘Hey, they just shoved me.’

“And he asked them, he was like, ‘Yo, don’t shove her. Who shoved her?’ And as soon as he said that, everything went crazy. They said they were going to kill us.”

She said mob pushed her to the ground and immediately turned on DJ to beat him. They robbed the couple, stealing their shoes, phones, a pair of glasses, an Apple Watch and a hat.

CWBChicago initially reported the shocking video, which has been viewed nearly 15 million times on Twitter, had been included in a “sort of ‘mix tape’ of social media posts … purporting to be from the ‘large group’ incident in the Loop on Saturday night’”.

The 20-second video, overlaid with the caption “Yay we get active”, shows a group of teens surrounding Ashley in a doorway.

One of the teens is seen putting her in a headlock and yanking her to the ground as she screams in terror.

“Everyone went for him, and it ended up in the middle of the street,” Ashley told Fox News. “They were jumping him in the middle of the street. It got pretty bad.”

Ashley said she saw police drive past them as she was getting up from the ground.

“They almost had to avoid the collision to get past us, but they just drove by the incident in the middle of the street,” she said.

A good Samaritan named Lenora along with her husband picked up the injured couple and took them to the hospital.

“God bless her,” Ashley said. “She gave us shoes, took us home, took us to the hospital. Thank you so much. I don’t know where we would have been without her.”

DJ, who is suffering from injuries to his face, shoulder and back following the incident, told Fox News the attack was completely random.

“It was very random because all we were doing [is] we had just left Nordstrom, and we were looking for somewhere to eat, and we saw that group, and they just thought they were tough, and they wouldn’t move out the way, just out there being stupid, young and dumb, trying to prove a point for nothing,” he said.

“That’s how that happened.”

The attack occurred at 129 North Wabash Ave in Chicago’s Loop district.

The Chicago Police Department issued a statement on Monday evening about the weekend’s violence but did not specifically address the video of the woman being assaulted.

In an updated statement on Tuesday, police reclassified the location of an earlier reported robbery that had originally been recorded on nearby Michigan Ave to North Wabash Ave, confirming the incident seen in the video.

“The victims, a 22-year-old male and a 20-year-old female, related they were at the above location when a group of unknown offenders approached,” the statement said.

“The offenders struck the victims several times before taking their personal property and fleeing in an unknown direction. The victims were transported to the University of Illinois Hospital with minor injuries. No one is in custody at this time. Area Three detectives are investigating.”

In its statement on Monday, the Chicago Police Department said its “top priority is the safety and wellbeing of our residents and visitors, including our city’s youth”.

“The reckless, disruptive and violent behaviour that was seen downtown this past weekend will not be tolerated,” police said. “We encourage our young people to be safe and responsible as they enjoy their weekends, but anyone engaged in criminal activity will be arrested and held accountable.”

Police added that “we actively and continuously review open source social media and additional resources will be available to protect those who are visiting, living or working in the areas of large gatherings”.

At least 15 people, among them six juveniles, were arrested in connection with the two days of unrest, which had been organised on social media. Most reportedly were charged with reckless conduct.

It comes after Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson urged the public not to “demonise” the young people involved in the riots.

“In no way do I condone the destructive activity we saw in the Loop and lakefront this weekend,” Mr Johnson, a progressive Democrat and former teachers union organiser who was elected Mayor earlier this month, said in a statement.

“It is unacceptable and has no place in our city. However, it is not constructive to demonise youth who have otherwise been starved of opportunities in their own communities.”

frank.chung@news.com.au