Four juveniles face aggravated assault charges in connection with a Tuesday incident described by Scranton police as an escalation of a dispute from the online game Fortnite.
City officers responded to Foster Street near Gunster Avenue for a possible abduction. Once on scene, officers determined the incident was an assault rather than an abduction.
Police issued a “be on the lookout” alert for a vehicle involved in the incident. Old Forge officers spotted a vehicle matching the alert, stopped it and found four juvenile males inside.
The 14-year-old victim told officers he was arguing with another gamer while playing the Fortnite online. The other gamer threatened to assault him during the game.
Later, the 14-year-old was walking down the street and a vehicle stopped behind him. The four juveniles, dressed in black clothing with red bandanas, got out of the car and assaulted him with a sharp weapon, resulting in lacerations.
The four suspects, ranging in age from 15 to 17, were charged as juveniles with aggravated assault, conspiracy to commit aggravated assault and assault with a deadly weapon.
Two of the juveniles were from Old Forge, one from Taylor and one from Duryea.
Under state law, the names of juveniles involved in criminal cases are kept confidential.
Following the arrests, Lackawanna County District Attorney Brian Gallagher said parents need to understand that their children are their responsibility and could be held legally accountable for their actions.
“Parents need to start parenting,” he said.
He encourages parents to know what their children are doing online, to look at their video game chats, to examine their cell phones.
“See who they’re texting and who they’re meeting. And if you need help, get help — before it’s too late and your child makes a decision that can’t be undone,” he said.
“The reality is this: On a random Tuesday night, four kids dressed in black with red bandannas get in a car (and) went out to assault another juvenile with a weapon over an online argument. Where were the parents? We cannot pretend we don’t see it anymore.”