The teens, all males 17 and 16, were charged with aggravated battery, criminal damage to property and mob action. Some allegedly took inspiration for the crimes from social media.

Summary

Eleven Illinois teens face felony charges after allegedly luring two men via dating apps and assaulting them last July.

Inspired by a viral social media trend, the teens attacked a 41-year-old and a 23-year-old in separate incidents, damaging vehicles and using slurs in one case, resulting in hate crime charges for one teen.

All suspects turned themselves in and were detained at a juvenile center.

Police urge parents to discuss the dangers of social media trends with their children to prevent such incidents.

  • Kit
    7·
    3 days ago

    Further reading on the historical context of “f*gs bash back” for anyone curious: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queer_Nation

    I haven’t heard that slogan since the 90s. Really shows how far we’ve come, and now we’re sliding right back.