By Dan Murphy
A recent attack at a teen house party in Rye, which was video-taped and posted on social media, has resulted in an outcry from the parents of the victim for someone to come forward and identify the attackers.
Marie-Louise and James Mullally are still waiting for justice for their son, who was attacked Feb. 15 at a party in Rye. Their son, who is a senior at Rye High School, was attempting to get some uninvited teenage guests to leave the party. The young Mullally was then dragged outside and beaten.
The attack, by six to eight young males, was caught on video by several teenagers at the party. Now, more than two weeks after the incident, the only information that has come out is that the teens might have been from Harrison, and that is why they were asked to leave.
The Rye Police Department made the following statement two weeks ago.
“This assault is an ongoing investigation. Since the Mullalys shared one of the videos from that night we would ask anyone that can identify the subjects seen assaulting the youth in the video to please contact Rye Detectives at 914-967-1234.”
While the Rye P.D. appears disappointed that the Mullalys released a video, which was already on social media, the hope of Marie-Louise and James Mullally that justice will be served for their son is real. “Our son was assaulted,” Marie-Louise Mullally told CBS2’s Dave Carlin. “They punched him relentlessly and basically knocked him unconscious.”
Not only is their son a victim recovering physically, but he is also coping from the mental stress from being a public victim of bullying in its worst form, said James Mullally. “The psychological damage, the bullying that’s going on, throwing this all over social media like you’re proud of it…” he said.
Both parents have been told that witnesses are slowly coming forward. “This is a serious incident and arrests should be made by the police, based on the video of the beating,” said one Westchester law enforcement official. “If you connect the dots on this case, the teenager who had the party, he can reach out to some of his friends who were at the party, or you can take it to Facebook and see who posted it.”
Some of the responses on social media point to unequal justice, and protection for teens and high school students who commit crimes, in comparison to what happens in poorer communities.
Rebbeca P. wrote: “They talk so bad about the urban areas and look at how they act in RYE! It’s happened on other occasions as well but has not received press coverage! The cars in RYE are also being keyed.”
“He’s in the wrong place at the wrong time,” said James Mullally. “He’s one of the few standing up to this crowd of predators at the front door of this kid’s house.”
“Look at that video. What if it was your son?” added Marie-Louise Mullally.
We feature this story on our front pages in the hopes that someone will come forward with information that will lead to the arrest of one or all of the teenagers involved, regardless of whether they live in Rye, Harrison or Timbuktu. Let’s catch these criminals – and that is what they are. If the parents or neighbors of those involved are reading this, they should be ashamed of the example that these high school students have given to their community.
We hope witnesses and others with information are brave enough to come forward. Provide anonymous tips to tips@ryepd.ryeny.gov or 914-760-4243.
UPDATE: Rye Police Make Arrest in Assault of High School Senior
Rye police detectives have initiated an investigation into an assault that occurred Feb. 15 in the City of Rye, in which it was reported that several youths assaulted one male victim in the driveway of a residence shortly after 10 p.m. A cellphone video of the assault was provided, but identification of the assailants has been difficult.
Several witnesses came forward and identified an 18-year-old Harrison resident as one of the assailants. The subject was arrested March 3 and charged with third-degree assault. Due to New York State Raise the Age laws, the subject is still eligible for youthful offender status, and therefore his name and photograph will be withheld.
There are still several suspects that have not been identified.
The investigation is ongoing and detectives are requesting anyone who happened to witness the assault and can identify suspects to contact Rye detectives at 914-967-1234.
Last week we reported on the incident, and the parents of the victim went on local television to call for someone to come forward with information that may lead to the arrest of some of the teens who attacked their son, who was only trying to avoid violence at the party.
We now hope that additional information is provided to the Rye Police Department so that the other five teens in the video can be brought to justice.
