On Friday, June 24 at approximately 2:38 a.m., in the 2100 block of Cecil B Moore Avenue in Philadelphia, a group of youths were seen on surveillance footage attacking 72-year-old James Lambert. Footage released by the Philadelphia Police Department on Friday shows three girls and four boys hitting the victim with multiple objects, including a traffic cone, and knocking him to the ground. The victim is blurred out in the footage captured by surveillance cameras on the streets of north Philadelphia, but it has been confirmed by police that he suffered a head injury in the attack. He was taken to hospital shortly after the ambush and later died after succumbing to his injuries, police said. Philadelphia Police Department officers are asking for the public’s help in identifying seven teenagers who were seen on surveillance footage attacking an elderly man with a traffic cone (Youtube/Philadelphia Police Department) “The teenagers struck the victim multiple times with objects, knocking the victim to the ground causing head injuries,” police said in a statement shared online. Separate security footage shows the group of youths, described by police as being in their teens, regrouping after the attack, with one of the young boys appearing to act out the attack that had unfolded minutes before. Police hope the newly released video, along with the addition of a $20,000 reward for anyone who can provide information on the suspected perpetrators, will help generate new information in the case. Video released by the Philadelphia Police Department shows youths attacking a man with a traffic cone (Youtube/Philadelphia Police Department) In the video, officers provide zoomed-in images of the teenagers captured on surveillance cameras, with no additional details about their identities, other than the fact that one of the suspected attackers has blond hair. The Philadelphia Police Department has released these images of the youths suspected of attacking 72-year-old James Lambert, hoping the newly released video and a $20,000 reward for information will help build momentum in the investigation. (Youtube/Philadelphia Police Department) Lambert’s family, who watched “Simmie,” are reportedly “heartbroken” over the 72-year-old’s death and told NBC 10 Philadelphia they had seen the man just hours before the fatal attack. “It’s in disbelief that a group of kids did this,” NBC 10 reporter Danny Freeman said. Police urge anyone with information about the attack to call 911 or submit an anonymous tip by phone, text or online.
