Deadly 'knockout game' trend returns
A violent game that sees innocent bystanders and passerbys knocked unconscious, leaving some dead, is feared to be returning to the streets.
The 'Knockout' game sees unsuspecting civilians punched so powerfully they are knocked unconscious in deliberate, and in some cases fatal, attacks.
Police believe the attacks are motivated by nothing other than 'for the fun of it'.
"They think it's funny," said one participant.
"They just go, boom, when it's the right time and the right place.
"It could be anybody, it could be a mother with her children. It's a macho thing."
Three people have been killed in the past two years after the game first surfaced in New York City and, after a short respite from the streets, police are now concerned a number of recent attacks indicate the growing trend is back and as violent as ever before.
Most recently, a 27-year-old Washington woman was reportedly walking home along a busy road when a group of teens on bicycles came up behind her and punched her in the back of the head before taking off laughing.
In 2012, a 50-year-old teacher James Addlespurger was knocked unconscious while walking past a group of teenagers in an alley.
The attack, captured on security video, saw the alleged assailant smile and walk away as if nothing happened after the Arts teacher fell face-first onto the curb.
"There were six kids. There was me walking, just normally on my way, and boom came the punch and down I went, straight down with my face falling and hitting the cool concrete. I was shocked. I was speechless. I didn’t really know what to think,” said Addlespurger.
Police also believe the attacks are now evolving into race-based hate crimes.
