CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Three Charlotte teenagers are charged with robbing and assaulting a 17-year-old girl in a hospital waiting room, while the victim’s family watched the attack live on Facebook.
“I got a phone call from a family member saying, ‘Have you seen what's going on on Facebook?’” Urhonda Phuillips told Eyewitness News.
She said her daughter had gone to Carolinas Medical Center to visit a friend when the three teenagers, including her own cousin, attacked her and broadcast it on Facebook Live.
"My younger daughter came in the room and said, ‘Mom, look what's going on on Facebook.’ And when I saw them yelling at her, I gave the phone to my husband. I couldn't watch it," Phillips said.
(Click PLAY to hear the girl's mother talk about the attack)
Police said her daughter was hit with a trash can lid, punched repeatedly and then had her cellphone, wallet and book bag stolen in the waiting room of the hospital.
Police used the video posted on Facebook to identify and arrest the suspects. All three are charged with robbery, kidnapping and assault.
Phillips said her daughter has recovered and is doing well, but she said she cannot understand why teenagers would use Facebook to broadcast their bullying for everyone to watch.
"A lot of these kids are doing things because they feel if they put it on live, they'll get a lot of followers, and people will give them street cred and they can do what they want," she said.
Police said they can’t discuss the investigation, but the Facebook Live video is critical evidence in the case.
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