Man Attacked Six Homeless People In Center City Philadelphia: DA

PHILADELPHIA — A man is charged with more than two dozen counts of various crimes after Philadelphia authorities said he attacked six homeless people, unprovoked, in Center City Philadelphia recently.

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner said Naeem Morgan, 27, is charged with six counts each of simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, disorderly conduct, and harassment. Morgan is also charged with four counts of possession of an instrument of crime.

The attacks happened earlier this month against six people who were sleeping outside the Pennsylvania Convention Center in the vicinity of 12th and Arch streets.

Video circulating online shows Morgan, who was being recorded by others as they laughed, walking up to victims and screaming "get a job" while kicking and pushing them as he walked down the sidewalk, according to the DA's office.

Morgan also assaulted some of them with their own belongings, the DA's office said.

"Terrorizing and assaulting an extremely vulnerable population—in this case, unhoused people—is reprehensible," Krasner said. "And unfortunately, we live in a social and political climate that seemingly condones hatred against marginalized communities. So my message to anyone who wants to pile on is that my office intends to hold Naeem Morgan and anyone else accountable for this unacceptable and cruel behavior."

"I thank the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office and Philadelphia Police Department for their effort to hold this individual accountable for this senseless violence," Reverend Robin Hynicka said. "But let's be clear: Violence is committed against unhoused neighbors every single day. It is physical. It is psychological. It is systemic. We all need to work harder at protecting our society's most vulnerable."

Court documents for Morgan were not immediately available.