Social Media Sleuths Help Philly Police ID Anti-Gay Hate Crime Suspects

Philadelphia police credited social media users this week with helping them identify a group of people suspected of committing a hate crime against two gay men last week in Philadelphia.

Police released surveillance footage on Tuesday showing what they said was a group of people suspected in the brutal beating, which took place on Thursday night. Within hours, a Philadelphia detective took to Twitter to thank the civilian social media users who he said helped identify suspects.

Television station WPVI reported on Wednesday that the lawyers of some of the people shown on camera had since contacted police to arrange questioning of their clients.

The assault targeted two men, ages 27 and 28, who were approached by a group of men and women who “made disparaging remarks about their sexual orientation,” according to the police.

Some members held the two men, while others punched them in the face, head, and chest, the police said. As officers arrived, the attackers fled.

Both victims were taken to a hospital. One of them suffered fractures and deep cuts to his face. He had to have surgery and get his jaw wired shut, the police said.

Following the release of the video, the civilian sleuths took action. NPR’s Melody Kramer compiled a series of tweets showing how the social media users appeared to have helped identify possible suspects. The trail included photos and Facebook check-ins.

Philadelphia Police Detective Joseph Murray took note of the assistance Tuesday night on Twitter.

S/O to @FanSince09 This is what makes my job easy. Sure, it’s up to me to make the arrest but we are all in this together.

— Joseph Murray (@PPDJoeMurray) September 17, 2014

However, Murray also cautioned that Philadelphia police were still investigating the crime.

Let’s be clear here. No arrests made. Central Detectives have done a ton of work and have a lot more to do. (Not a law & order episode)

— Joseph Murray (@PPDJoeMurray) September 17, 2014