Charges eyed for Lombard teens who cops say videotaped attack on girl

At least four teenagers are implicated in a beating posted online of a 13-year-old girl at a Lombard festival.

Results of a Lombard police investigation have been turned over to the DuPage County state's attorney's office to decide if charges should be filed, Deputy Police Chief Dane Cuny said. The investigation revealed "four major offenders" -- girls ages 13 and 14 -- who either participated, encouraged or recorded the beating.

A video of the attack was posted on YouTube shortly after the July 3 incident, but it was removed from Web site "when they felt the heat from the police," Cuny said.

The girl was approached by another girl in the Madison Meadow Park returning from the Taste of Lombard downtown. Cuny said the aggressor told the other girl she wanted to fight over allegations of stolen property. When the victim said she didn't want to fight and tried to walk away, she was attacked from behind by the girl.

Cuny said the victim suffered bruises and scrapes to her face and body. He said there were no weapons involved in the beating.

The girl and her mother filed a police report three days later and reported the existence of the video at the same time.

Authorities said the video shows the girl being attacked by another girl while other teenage boys and girls laugh in the background.

Cuny said investigators interviewed more than a dozen teens who witnessed the attack before turning over its results to Birkett's office. Officials from Birkett's office could not set a timeline for a decision on charges.

Because they are juveniles, even if they are charged with a crime, the offenders will not be identified.