Family seeks arrest of security guards in DeKalb mall beating
A trio of mall security guards caught on video punching a 15-year-old boy are scheduled to be in a DeKalb County courtroom Monday for a probable cause hearing that could bring criminal charges.
The video, uploaded on YouTube in late June soon after the incident, generated outrage but no arrests. The guards were suspended without pay and no longer work at the Mall at Stonecrest in Lithonia, mall officials said at the time.
The victim and his friends had reportedly been told to leave by the guards because they were unaccompanied minors. A verbal confrontation followed, and a witness who recorded the skirmish on her cellphone said she saw one of the guards throw the first punch.
Mawuli Davis, who represents the teen and his family, said Sunday that they would like to see the guards arrested.
“This kind of abuse of power is beyond unprofessional, it is criminal,” Davis said in a statement.
The hearing is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday.
About the Author
A native Atlantan, Boone joined the AJC staff in 2007. He quickly carved out a niche covering crime stories, assuming the public safety beat in 2014. He's covered some of the biggest trials this decade, from Hemy Neuman to Ross Harris to Chip Olsen, the latter of which was featured on Season 7 of the AJC's award-winning "Breakdown" podcast.
