Parents in Surprise are rattled after a social media promoted teen gathering over Easter weekend reportedly spun out of control, with guns and tasers on display and at least one teenager badly beaten. Online videos and a clip released by police capture chaotic moments that have families demanding answers and neighbors worrying about what is happening on their block. Surprise police say they are poring over multiple bystander videos as they work to identify everyone involved.
Police say weapons were shown at party
As reported by 12 News, Surprise police were called out on April 4 to a home near Loop 303 and Greenway Road after a report of a person with a gun. According to the outlet, the gathering had been advertised on social media and drew people the homeowners did not know, and witnesses reported that tasers and other devices were displayed as the night escalated.
Video shows teen ambushed, hospitalized
Video shared with ABC15 shows a masked person pointing what appears to be a gun while a 15 year old is surrounded, beaten and then thrown into a pool, according to the station and police. ABC15 reports the teen was taken to an emergency room with a concussion, a broken nose and other head injuries while detectives review footage from multiple phones to piece together who did what.
Police release person of interest image and ask for tips
Surprise police released a short video clip and a person of interest image and asked anyone with information to call 623-222-4000 or 623-222-TIPS (8477) or email [email protected], as ABC15 reports. Investigators want tipsters to reference incident number 260400178. "They're working with some of the resources we have within our department," Sgt. Rick Hernandez told ABC15, saying detectives are coordinating with school resource officers and real-time analysts to track down those involved.
Police warn about unsupervised social media gatherings
As 12 News notes, Surprise police are warning that unsupervised gatherings promoted online can grow fast and turn volatile, creating unsafe conditions for teens and the neighborhoods around them. The department says this investigation is a stark example of how quickly a party can draw in unknown attendees and become dangerous for guests and bystanders.
Officers are urging anyone who attended or who has videos or photos to preserve that evidence and share it directly with investigators instead of posting it publicly. Anyone with tips should contact Surprise police and reference incident number 260400178.
