(TBD)

Someone who lives on 13th Street SE posted a disturbing story on the Hill East listserv today. She says her family witnessed an apparently unprovoked and ruthless assault yesterday on a woman walking with groceries near 13th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue SE. As the young lady passed a group of boys on the sidewalk, one of them punched her square in the face, knocking out her bottom teeth. No words were exchanged. The assault occurred around 3 p.m., with plenty of people around. The kids simply went on their way; the woman was taken to the hospital.

The story has kicked up the usual uninformed nonsense about gang initiations and whatnot. But there's no real explanation for this kind of thing, other than the fact that punching a stranger in the face is some kids' idea of a good time.

The witness' story is after the jump.

[W]e were a block away when a girl was brutally punched in the
face by a young black male, with no apparent provocation.
The young woman was walking along Pennsylvania SE near 1313 Penn, carrying a grocery bag in each hand. As she approached a group of 4 black males, one of them just punched her in the face. It knocked out her bottom teeth. She did not say a word to them, they did not say a word to her, and they did not rob her. It was 3PM, and there were tons of people out.

My family was a block away, headed toward Fragers, so we did not see the actual attack, but heard her scream. When we realized that she had been hurt, we turned and walked toward her, passing 2 of the 4 involved males. With other neighbors, we did what we could to help. We called the police, filed a report, helped the injured girl get her purse and insurance card so she could go to the hospital.

How can I feel safe walking in this neighborhood when there is
violence like this?