DC police looking for suspects in convenience store assault

WASHINGTON - D.C. police are looking for the public's help yet again to track down what appears to be another group of violent teenagers.

This latest incident involves an attack on a convenience store employee caught on surveillance camera in late December.

Police are seeking seven people of interest in this crime. Authorities are not saying their ages, but the man they attacked told FOX 5 they appeared to be in high school.

Police released more than two minutes of surveillance video taken about 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 29. It shows the seven people of interest coming and going from Mike's Market located in the 4200 block of Benning Road in Northeast D.C.

At one point, police said three of the young men attempted to steal candy from the front counter. The clerk told them to put the items back.

On the video, you can see the store employee grab a baseball bat and lock the store door. Police said the three complied with his request and he let them leave.

But they returned with others and assaulted the clerk, kicking and hitting him around his head and body.

The clerk told FOX 5 he went to the hospital after the attack and needed eight stitches on his head. He still has bruises on his arms too.

He said the store regularly deals with kids coming in trying to grab chips and candy and it is an ongoing problem.

His store is not alone dealing with this kind of crime. This is just the latest in a string of violent incidents in the city including assaults and robbery attempts allegedly at the hands of a large group of teens.

Police are hoping these faces are known to that neighborhood and that someone will come forward to identify them.

The crime in this case is aggravated assault and there is a $1,000 reward for anyone who provides information that leads to arrests and convictions in this case.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call police at 202-727-9099 or text your tip to the text tip line to 50411.