(CBS Philly) Police are searching for a group of seven teenage suspects who brutally beat a 73-year-old man with a cone and other objects in North Philadelphia last month, knocking the man to the ground and causing head injuries.
Police identified the victim Friday as James Lambert, who died from injuries the following day.
The incident happened June 24 around 2:45 a.m. on the 2100 block of Cecil B. Moore Avenue.
Lambert was by himself only a few blocks away from his home when he was surrounded by seven teenagers and attacked from behind. Police say they believe the man did nothing to provoke the assault.
“It’s horrible, it’s a horrific occurrence,” Philadelphia Police Capt. Jason Smith said.
Lambert was rushed to Temple University Hospital after the attack and died the following day.
Police say they’re looking for a group of seven juveniles between the ages of 13 years old and 17 years old. The suspects consist of four boys and three girls. The suspects are unknown to investigators.
Police released surveillance video of the incident on Friday.
Philly Police need help identifying the teen attackers who struck a 72-year-old man several times with a cone and other objects, knocking him to the ground and causing head injuries. The victim died of his injuries the following day, police say pic.twitter.com/HAItlSvCig
— Matt Petrillo (@MattPetrillo) July 8, 2022
The surveillance video shows the teens following Lambert when one of the boys picks up a traffic cone and hurls it at him. Lambert is knocked to the ground and tries to get away before he gets hit a second time by a young girl.
Police say two of the teens attacked Lambert as the others watched.
“Mr. Lambert proceeds to get up and he’s attempting to walk away from the group again, and at that time, you can see a female strike Mr. Lambert in the back with a construction cone,” Smith said.
After the attack, you can see one boy hop on a scooter. Another boy has a unique patch of blonde hair that police are hoping you may recognize.
