Eight teenage girls have been arrested and charged with the fatal swarming attack of a homeless man in Toronto.On December 19, 2022, police in Toronto were called to the scene of a brutal attack on a homeless man in the downtown area of the city. The victim, identified as 59-year-old Ken Lee, passed away at a hospital after being rushed there.According to police, the attack was allegedly carried out by a group of eight teenage girls who knew each other through social media. The suspects, aged 13 to 16, have been charged with second-degree murder in Lee's death.
Teen Girls Arrested
The attack has been described as a "swarming" by authorities, a term used to describe a coordinated assault carried out by a group of people. In this case, the eight teenage girls are alleged to have worked together to beat and stab Lee.
Rise of Swarming Crime
The increasing trend of swarming attacks in Canada can be attributed to the rise of social media and mobile technology. These platforms make it easier for individuals to organize and coordinate attacks quickly and anonymously, making it challenging for authorities to detect and prosecute the perpetrators. Furthermore, the anonymity and distance provided by the internet can lead individuals to engage in aggressive or violent behaviour that they would not consider doing in face-to-face interactions."Swarming attack" is a term used to describe an assault where a group of people attack an individual or a small group. Many attackers and the coordinated nature of the attack characterize this type of attack. In this case, the eight teenage girls allegedly worked together to attack Ken Lee.The incident has sent shockwaves through the city of Toronto and has raised questions about the involvement of social media in violent crimes. The investigation is ongoing, and the suspects are currently awaiting trial.Concerns about group attacks or swarmings first appeared with the growth of juvenile gangs and organizations in major Canadian metropolitan centres in the late 1980s, according to a study by the Uniform Law Conference of Canada. The development of gangs in other Canadian municipalities during the 1990s led to an increase in the reporting of gang or other group attacks.
Teen Girls Arrested-Teen Girls Arrested-Teen Girls Arrested
Swarmings are not specific to gangs: Although swarmings are a technique, they do not occur when the gang structure is missing.Many swarmings that have been reported are classed as impromptu, loosely orchestrated, or spontaneous attacks. Racism, bigotry, or hate of the victim or their group can also be motivating factors. Sometimes the bombardment serves no obvious purpose.