Phila. police arrest 5 MLK High teens in beating that went viral

Philadelphia police have arrested five students from Martin Luther King High School who earlier this month kicked and punched another student - knocking out several of his teeth - in an attack that was recorded and posted online Thursday.

The video, showing teenagers repeatedly beating a classmate June 5 while shouting taunts, was posted on the popular website MediaTakeOut.com. At one point, the student was hit in the face with a traffic cone, knocking out his teeth.

Four of the students charged in the beating are juveniles; the fifth is 18, police said. They were arrested before the video was posted.

The victim, 17, was treated for the loss of teeth as well as cuts, bruises, and swelling at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children.

MediaTakeOut.com had suggested the victim was beaten because he had made the honor roll; police and school officials said that was not the case.

Philadelphia School District spokesman Fernando Gallard said the beating was a case of mistaken identity.

"He was an innocent student," Gallard said. "It had nothing to do with the honor roll. This fight came out of another fight that occurred in the neighborhood."

Police said the assailants believed the victim was present at that earlier fight - but he had not been involved at all.

The students involved in the fight were disciplined soon after it occurred.

"The students were immediately suspended, and then referred for expulsion," Gallard said.

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