Teens In Custody After 'Vicious Assault' On Man At MBTA Station

BOSTON — Boston police have placed three teenaged boys ranging in age from 14 to 16 in custody for attacking a 66-year-old at Boston's Downtown Crossing station Monday night.

Police say a group of 6 or 7 teens was seen harassing passengers and pointing Nerf toy guns at them around 7 p.m.

The group started shooting Nerf gun darts at a 66-year-old man who had just entered the station, striking him in the head.

When the man confronted the teens, they began physically attacking him, punching him and throwing him against the wall in what police called a "cowardly and vicious assault."

The man was left with head injuries as the group got onto a southbound Red Line train, and EMTs arrived shortly to rush the 66-year-old to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment.

Transit police officers were able to track down the group outside of the MBTA's JFK-UMass station thanks to witnesses' statements, descriptions, and video surveillance.

Three teenagers were placed into custody for assault & battery with a dangerous weapon on a victim over 60 years of age. The teens were then transported to Transit Police Department Headquarters to be booked.

TPD believes this group may have been involved in other unprovoked assaults on the MBTA system earlier but added that those matters are still being investigated.

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