Seven teens indicted for attempted murder in brutal kissena park assault — Prison fence. Grid fence with barbed wire against sunset. Barbed wire. Security measures for prisoners in prison.

QUEENS, N.Y. — Seven 17-year-olds have been indicted in a violent gang-style assault on two younger teenagers in Kissena Park, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced Wednesday.

The defendants are accused of luring a 13-year-old and his 16-year-old friend into a wooded area of the park on May 2, then beating them with a metal baseball bat, punching, kicking, and robbing them. One teen was strangled into unconsciousness, and another had part of his head shaved during the attack.

“As alleged, a group of students lured two younger teenagers into the woods of Kissena Park and relentlessly beat them,” said DA Katz. “This was an outrageous act of mob violence.”

Victims suffered severe physical and emotional trauma

According to the charges, the assault began after a 17-year-old girl — who had a prior friendship with the 13-year-old victim — arranged a meeting in the park. Once there, the younger victims were coerced into the woods by the group, who warned the beating would be worse if it took place on the concrete court.

The 16-year-old was struck multiple times with a metal bat and gloves embedded with metal spikes. During the attack, his shoes, sweater, and phone were stolen. The 13-year-old was also punched, kicked, and struck with the bat. The 16-year-old lost consciousness from strangulation, and one assailant used battery-operated clippers to shave his head during the ongoing assault.

Defendants face up to 25 years in prison

The teens face a combined 25-count indictment, including attempted murder, gang assault, robbery, strangulation, and criminal possession of a weapon. The defendants were arraigned before Queens Supreme Court Justice Bruna DiBiase between June 4 and June 25. If convicted of the top charges, they each face up to 25 years in prison.

Both victims were hospitalized. The 13-year-old suffered swelling, bruising, eye damage, and a concussion. The 16-year-old sustained similar injuries along with memory loss.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.