Mob attacks man in his house

**MuscleHead** · 09-27-2011, 08:31 AM

ABOUT 11 P.M. on Sept. 9, dozens of youths with bats and pipes descended on a tidy residential area of Port Richmond looking for white teens who allegedly had attacked an African-American kid at Stokely Playground a couple of hours earlier.

Two fearful white teens spotted Mark LaVelle on Indiana Avenue near Belgrade Street and asked for help. Suddenly, the mob appeared. LaVelle, who said that he didn't know the two kids, who looked to be 13 or 14, ran with them into his nearby house.

" 'We got you, you white mother-------!' " LaVelle said he heard someone yell in the "mob" of black and Hispanic youths.

Inside his house, LaVelle, 37, called to his wife, Kim, 30, to go to their bedroom with their twin 13-month-old boys, Mark and Mason, and to call police. He also ordered his two other sons, 11 and 17, and his nephew, 7, to stay upstairs.

With the two teens hiding in the house, LaVelle, 5 feet 10, 220 pounds, a well-known sports-league organizer and coach in the community, went outside to try to calm the angry mob.

They were standing on his steps. One shouted, " 'Something's going to happen now!' " LaVelle recalled in an interview Friday at his house. LaVelle got nervous and went back inside, locking his door with a deadbolt.

But the attackers pounded on his front windows and kicked his wooden door so hard, it flew open and some of them entered his house.

"The first guy hits me with a pipe. The second guy knocks me in the face. All I'm hearing is my wife and kids screaming," said LaVelle, who feared that the next time they saw him, he would be in a casket.

He said that he was able to push the attackers out the door, but then a third man - who had a gun - tried to extend his arm. LaVelle grabbed onto the gunman's lower arm and shoulder so he couldn't raise the weapon. Then, police sirens screamed in the neighborhood, and the mob turned and ran.

Chased home: Mob attacks man in his house | Philadelphia Daily News | 09/27/2011

**Jay from Philly** · 09-27-2011, 08:59 AM

This was discussed on this board right after it happened. Comments on this article are already closed. On the other hand, the fact that this was reported at all, let alone the ethnicity of the attackers mentioned, was something new. The press is hiding the ethnicity of the perps just a little less often these days.

**hkp** · 09-27-2011, 09:44 AM

Where is the thread about this on PS?

**MuscleHead** · 09-27-2011, 09:58 AM

Originally Posted by Jay from Philly

This was discussed on this board right after it happened. Comments on this article are already closed. On the other hand, the fact that this was reported at all, let alone the ethnicity of the attackers mentioned, was something new. The press is hiding the ethnicity of the perps just a little less often these days.

Sorry, I didn't realize this had already been discussed on this board. Today's article in the Inky is the first I heard of this incident.

**Gladys** · 09-27-2011, 10:34 AM

Since the thread was closed, because two people had a flame war, I'm glad you posted it. Since the article came out today I see no problem with it.. (but i have no authority) and I haven't seen this article, so thanks!

Thank God they followed this story... better late than never, it's the most comprehensive information i've seen.

**torts** · 09-27-2011, 10:44 AM

When he got home, LaVelle said, the mother yelled at him, " 'You white mother------, you got my kid locked up! You got my son locked up because he's black, you're white!' " The mother claimed that her son had been "a witness," not an attacker. To that, LaVelle said if that were true, it would come out in court. But the mother, according to LaVelle, then yelled: " 'If you make it to court! I know where you live!'"

Chased home: Mob attacks man in his house | Philadelphia Daily News | 09/27/2011

"Mom"

**torts** · 09-27-2011, 10:45 AM

"Crime happens"

**torts** · 09-27-2011, 10:45 AM

"Just because you moved here doesn't mean we have to stop attacking people"

**torts** · 09-27-2011, 10:45 AM

"If you see something suspicious, call the cops"

**Gladys** · 09-27-2011, 03:44 PM

Originally Posted by torts

When he got home, LaVelle said, the mother yelled at him, " 'You white mother------, you got my kid locked up! You got my son locked up because he's black, you're white!' " The mother claimed that her son had been "a witness," not an attacker. To that, LaVelle said if that were true, it would come out in court. But the mother, according to LaVelle, then yelled: " 'If you make it to court! I know where you live!'"

Chased home: Mob attacks man in his house | Philadelphia Daily News | 09/27/2011

"Mom"

what was that about the apple and the tree?

**seanmhair** · 09-28-2011, 10:21 AM

There was a 12 yo girl pulled out of her house last night by a mob with guns.
Stemmed from a dispute at South Philly HS.
WTF has happened to this city?

**Hospitalitygirl** · 09-28-2011, 10:22 AM

Originally Posted by seanmhair

There was a 12 yo girl pulled out of her house last night by a mob with guns.
Stemmed from a dispute at South Philly HS.
WTF has happened to this city?

There was a 2 y/o shot in the abdomen in the same incident.

People have always and will always be the most lethal animal.

**PortPennFerry** · 10-05-2011, 09:50 AM

Has anyone seen the new Philly.com article in which the assailants defend their actions? Their excuses are full of loopholes- and pretty easy to pick apart.

Port Richmond home attack disputed by friends of suspects - Philly.com

There is no doubting they came to Port Richmond to cause trouble... even the 17-year old, who is being charged separately, agreed that he saw the three men hit Lavelle.

But I don't know what frustrates me more, these ruffians who came to cause trouble, or the posters at the end of the article, who ramble on about how this is the 'writing on the wall' that suggests they should leave Port Richmond. Where are they going to go, South Jersey? Teenage vandalism, dug use and intercommunal fights are certainly no less common there; the only different is that everyone has a siege mentality and won't go into the street to help a neighbor. And as far as Port Richmond going downhill, statistically, it hasn't lost its title as safest neighborhood in the city.... I wonder if they know that?

The only joy that brings me is the realization that their homes will probably be bought by some late 20s yuppies planning children whose presence will deter any one else from moving.

**thoth** · 10-05-2011, 07:02 PM

This whole story is really weird, even for Philadelphia.

How many people were really there? How come none of the neighbors have been interviewed for this story? If it was this crazy mob attack, how come nothing was taken from the home? I can't tell who's telling the truth here.

Originally Posted by PortPennFerry

Has anyone seen the new Philly.com article in which the assailants defend their actions? Their excuses are full of loopholes- and pretty easy to pick apart.

Port Richmond home attack disputed by friends of suspects - Philly.com

There is no doubting they came to Port Richmond to cause trouble... even the 17-year old, who is being charged separately, agreed that he saw the three men hit Lavelle.

But I don't know what frustrates me more, these ruffians who came to cause trouble, or the posters at the end of the article, who ramble on about how this is the 'writing on the wall' that suggests they should leave Port Richmond. Where are they going to go, South Jersey? Teenage vandalism, dug use and intercommunal fights are certainly no less common there; the only different is that everyone has a siege mentality and won't go into the street to help a neighbor. And as far as Port Richmond going downhill, statistically, it hasn't lost its title as safest neighborhood in the city.... I wonder if they know that?

The only joy that brings me is the realization that their homes will probably be bought by some late 20s yuppies planning children whose presence will deter any one else from moving.

**Gladys** · 10-05-2011, 11:58 PM

Originally Posted by thoth

This whole story is really weird, even for Philadelphia.

How many people were really there? How come none of the neighbors have been interviewed for this story? If it was this crazy mob attack, how come nothing was taken from the home? I can't tell who's telling the truth here.

If Lavelle isn't being truthful how did his door get broken? It was on the news and looked pretty heavily constructed.

**Salad Days** · 10-06-2011, 09:16 AM

I'm not sure the issue is so much Lavelle's story as what incited the whole thing to begin with.

**Politburo** · 10-06-2011, 09:38 AM

Originally Posted by thoth

If it was this crazy mob attack, how come nothing was taken from the home?

I'm not sure what the logical connection is. Based on the first article the goal of the mob was bodily harm, not looting. It also says they didn't get far into the home.

**sometimesilie** · 10-06-2011, 11:04 AM

I refuse to participate in this thread until the actions of the actors have been broken down among racial lines.

**Gladys** · 10-06-2011, 11:09 AM

Originally Posted by Salad Days

I'm not sure the issue is so much Lavelle's story as what incited the whole thing to begin with.

As far as he being attacked in his home it doesn't matter how it started. It only matters what happened to him. Besides this is from the article... looks like they are saying he's lying.

"They said that Mark LaVelle was not attacked in his home and that they did not hear anyone call him a "white motherf-----."

"Separately, a 17-year-old boy who was also arrested contends he was just a witness to the attack, not a doer."

apparently the claim is either didn't happen or they were all just witnesses. How can you witness an attack that didn't happen?

right. So far the evidence is pretty heavy towards Lavelle telling the truth... i'll put my money on him.

**Salad Days** · 10-06-2011, 12:19 PM

I read the article, I know the story, I don't have any reason to dispute Lavelle's story. The woman that threatened him was also arrested (I guess she was the 17 year old's mother).