Police warn parents after pair of 13-year-olds arrested for attacking KCK ice cream shop manager
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KCTV) - “Our message to parents is, you are able for your children’s behavior.”
The Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department delivered stern words for parents after several children were involved in “a disturbance” outside of an ice cream shop on Wednesday afternoon. Two teens were ultimately arrested, accused of attacking the store manager of Hey Sugar in the 400 block of North 6th Street.
The teen suspects, both 13 years old, were booked into the Wyandotte County Juvenile Detention Center. One of them was connected with a previous crime at the same business last spring, police stated.
“In Kansas City, Kansas, we want to be crystal-clear – if your children engage in criminal activities, they will be charged; and if probable cause exists, the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department will also seek charges against you,” the police department added.
KCTV5 spoke with Rudy Perez, who ran to the victim’s aid when he heard screaming. Perez is a mentor at Lowriding 2 Success, a place that helps teenagers and is directly across from Hey Sugar.
“As soon as they heard the yelling, people coming over there, they stopped their assault and started backing away,” Perez said. “We realized they were very young kids. Just with our presence, they were intimidated, and they started to back off.”
The victim didn’t want to do an interview but told KCTV5, “I am feeling traumatized, because Hey Sugar is a friendly and fun place to work at and never, I thought I would be attacked, especially by kids.”
She then recalled what happened, saying she recognized some of the teens.
“Two of the boys broke into the store in March last year and they keep coming and tresing,” she said. “So, I just asked them to leave after I pushed the panic button at the store and waited for police arrival. Three of those kids did not like that I asked them to leave and felt challenged. When I talked back and forth with them, the two boys started attacking me.”
She is thankful her neighbors jumped to save her.
“With me being loud, screaming and yelling at them, Lowriding 2 Success mentors and kids across the street heard me and ran to break the attack and to make sure I was safe,” she added. “Big thank you to them. They helped me be safe.”
For two years, Perez, who knows what it’s like behind bars, has been working with students in the program that focuses on guidance, discipline, and reimagining their lives. They do this through building bikes with the goal of preventing behaviors like they helped put a stop to.
“To be able to prove that what we’ve been teaching them works, there’s a better way,” Perez said. “They’re seeing it now, and I’m so proud of them.”
The store manager suffered bruising and facial scratches.
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