Posted on 08/04/2015 5:47:33 AM PDT by csvset
Seven young basketball players from Minneapolis, Minn., were arrested late Sunday night after they went on an assault spree on foot in south Wichita, police said Monday.
The boys, ranging in age from 12 to 18 years old, were in town for the Mid America Youth Basketball tournament and were staying overnight at an area hotel, Wichita police Lt. James Esponiza said. Police first responded to the 500 block of South Broadway at around 11 p.m. on Sunday. A 48-year-old man there reported that the group of teens approached him as he stood on his front porch, yelled at him, made threats and threw rocks, bottles, bricks and chunks of concrete.
The man suffered injuries to his abdomen, arms and legs, Espinoza said.
The boys then approached a 29-year-old man, also at the residence, who tried to escape by foot. The group of teenagers tackled the man and beat him, Espinoza said.
In another incident Sunday night, a 32-year-old man was riding a bicycle near Waterman and Main, in downtown Wichita, Espinoza said, when 10 to 12 teens knocked him off his bike and assaulted him with punches, kicks and rocks.
Police are also investigating whether several homeless people were victims of assault throughout the night, Espinoza said. Victims are still coming forward, he said.
A 12-year-old was arrested on suspicion of battery, aggravated assault and resisting arrest. Two 14-year-olds and two 15-year-olds were arrested on suspicion of battery. Another 15-year-old was arrested on suspicion of battery and destruction to property. And an 18-year-old was arrested on suspicion of battery.
There are coaches, “but apparently there wasn’t any supervision being done to watch these young men,” Espinoza said.
Sunday was the last day of the MAYB National Championship tournament, which began in Wichita on Thursday. Layne Frick, a spokesperson for the MAYB, said Monday afternoon that tournament organizers were unaware of Sunday night’s incidents until hearing it in the news Monday morning, so Frick did not have any details about what happened.
“Outside of the tournament itself, it’s hard for us to have any regulation over those boys,” he said.
About 5,000 competitors from across the country were in town for the weekend competing in the annual tournament. First- through 12th-graders compete in dribbling, shooting and dunking competitions in addition to playing in a bracket-style tournament.
“The MAYB National Championship draws the best youth basketball programs in the country with the top basketball players in each class in attendance,” according to a news release from the MAYB.
College recruiters usually attend the tournament to “watch the top young basketball players,” the release said, and such players as Blake Griffin, Wayne Simien and Brandon Rush have competed in the tournament.
Reach Shelby Reynolds at 316-268-6514 or sreynolds@wichitaeagle.com. Follow her on Twitter: @_shelbyreynolds.
“Basketball players” is the new “youths”
MAYB they were sons of Obama?
It’s 11pm
Do you know where your children are?
Remember that ad?
If the teens were out wilding their chaperones must have been doing something worse
Playing the knockout game and “ get whitey” is the new midnight basketball
If only these “utes” were in a Midnight Basketball league. I’m suuuure none of this would have happened.
More college prospects.
“Dindu muffin...”
We have photos...
“Dat ain’t me, dindu muffin...”
Your mother said you were there...
“Dat ain’t me, dindu muffin...”
We have your DNA on the weapon!
“Dat ain’t me, dindu muffin...”
Yes, what were the coaches doing?
Penalties for said crimes need to be increased, there is no fear of being caught or going to jail in these animals.
Sure. Get these kids involved in sports. Show them the opportunities that exist. Take them to tournaments in other cities. Expose them to the world outside the ghetto.
Soon they’ll be getting straight A’s and planning to go to college. Wrong.
They’ll be bringing their ghetto values with them to pollute a wider venue.
Darned Out of Towners with their filthy Out of Town ways....
7 of 10 arrested. Maybe they can make it a 3-on-3 tournament now?
Amish. All named “Jakey Zimmerman”.
Sentence each animal to 20 years without parole to set an example. Useless filthy trash.
Primarily white folks with a token Latina and token black man. I'm guessing the white folks know how to set up these scam operations.
“group of teens”
Inviting ferals into your community (for any reason) is like inviting criminals to town.
MAYB they need to stop inviting the Amish to the tourney. They were Amish right?
If there were really 5000 guys there, why were the only ones to make trouble the team from Minneapolis?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.