Parents in South Auckland in New Zealand have been warned by local authorities to keep their young kids in their houses at night. The warning was issued after two street gang incidents broke out recently. There have been no fatalities to date, but the life of a young teenage boy is still currently hanging in the balance.
The ruckus took place at the Otara Town Center. Police were called and responded to the place at midnight just last Saturday. Apparently, a security guard had discovered two groups of teenagers fighting on the premises. Upon seeing the police, all the kids ran off and instantly disappeared from sight. Only one kid remained. He was an unconscious 17-year-old boy who lay unmoving on the ground. Reports say that the teenage boy was not part of the rumble. He was reportedly walking through the park when he got caught up in the melee. Additional reports said that the boy was so badly beaten around the head area that it is doubtful whether he will survive.
If that wasn't enough, a few hours after midnight, the police were summoned yet again. Apparently, there was another teenage rumble. This time, the incident took place in Mangere. Like the first incident, another teenage boy was left behind again, this one with a face that was so badly beaten that it "looked like a rugby ball," according to reports. The victim was supposed to have undergone surgery yesterday. He is expected to live, but reports say that he may lose the sight in one of his eyes.
According to Detective Senior Sergeant Gary Lendrum, the two fights were not isolated incidents and were in fact typical of recent cases that Counties Manukau police had been attending to recently. "It's street gangs, roaming around with weapons picking on each other. It's just got to a ludicrous stage. Every weekend we are having one. My advice to parents is to keep your kids indoors after dark in South Auckland. It's got to that stage," said Lendrum.
Lendrum revealed that police were still trying to determine which gangs were involved in the recent incidents.
The ruckus took place at the Otara Town Center. Police were called and responded to the place at midnight just last Saturday. Apparently, a security guard had discovered two groups of teenagers fighting on the premises. Upon seeing the police, all the kids ran off and instantly disappeared from sight. Only one kid remained. He was an unconscious 17-year-old boy who lay unmoving on the ground. Reports say that the teenage boy was not part of the rumble. He was reportedly walking through the park when he got caught up in the melee. Additional reports said that the boy was so badly beaten around the head area that it is doubtful whether he will survive.
If that wasn't enough, a few hours after midnight, the police were summoned yet again. Apparently, there was another teenage rumble. This time, the incident took place in Mangere. Like the first incident, another teenage boy was left behind again, this one with a face that was so badly beaten that it "looked like a rugby ball," according to reports. The victim was supposed to have undergone surgery yesterday. He is expected to live, but reports say that he may lose the sight in one of his eyes.
According to Detective Senior Sergeant Gary Lendrum, the two fights were not isolated incidents and were in fact typical of recent cases that Counties Manukau police had been attending to recently. "It's street gangs, roaming around with weapons picking on each other. It's just got to a ludicrous stage. Every weekend we are having one. My advice to parents is to keep your kids indoors after dark in South Auckland. It's got to that stage," said Lendrum.
Lendrum revealed that police were still trying to determine which gangs were involved in the recent incidents.