Passerby breaks up fight where teen was punched, pistol-whipped

A stranger stopped her vehicle and broke up a fight between teens on Tuesday.

Officers were dispatched to the 2200 block of E. Washington Avenue around 12:10 p.m.

The victim said he and a schoolmate were walking in the area when they were approached by two other teens. The teens yelled derogatory slurs toward the victim and one punched and pistol-whipped him. The 17-year-old was taken to the hospital for his injuries. 

Neither suspect was at the scene when officers arrived. Officers went to look for one of the suspects at their Hoard St. apartment. While there, they noticed some of the property the suspects were carrying at the time of the attack. A search warrant was drafted and executed. A firearm and a facsimile firearm were recovered from the suspect's belongings. A photo of the recovered firearm is pictured below.

Probable cause was developed to arrest one suspect for disorderly conduct with a hate crime enhancer. Probable cause was also developed to arrest the other suspect for substantial battery, disorderly conduct while armed with a hate crime enhancer.

This remains an ongoing and active investigation.