Twitter and Facebook users pooled together to help the police inquire into the cruel beating of a gay couple in Philadelphia on Thursday night. It is believed that twelve individuals were involved in assaulting the two men.
The police, who were searching for people suspected of beating the gay couple, got help from social media users who traced a photo of a young man and woman at a café and proceeded to match their faces and names.
The Police Department of Philadelphia released CCTV surveillance footage clearly showing that the couple was attacked by a large crowd while they were walking along 1600 block on Chancellor Street, a block locally referred to as "gayborhood."The footage showed the crowd tossing disparaging remarks concerning the two men's sexual orientation at them, before assaulting them. No sooner were the police called to the scene than the cluster took off, stealing couple's bag in the process.
The couple was seriously wounded. One man suffered orbital bone fracture and cuts to his face. The other was injured in the jaw.
Social media personalities came to aid the police immediately after the video was released. The social media users took to Twitter to search for pictures of the group involved in the assault. They identified the restaurant and used the restaurant Facebook page to find who had visited the café. Finally, they cross referenced the faces and names, coming up with a couple of identities.
Joe Murray, a police officer thanked the social media users for their support. He stated that his job was made easier thanks to them. He further stated that all people should be involved in arresting suspected criminals. He suggested that Twitter and the social media should work hand in hand with law enforcement authorities.
Though no arrests have been made, attorneys standing for those who were identified in the video agreed to bring their clients to explain what they know about the incident.
