The victim of a beating and attempted robbery by a group of teens Saturday is speaking out about his ordeal.
Chris Wilkowski says he had just finished up a day of shopping when he was sitting on his parked motor scooter on East Chicago Avenue, and suddenly hit in the face by a baseball and dragged onto the street.
"I was just trying to get away while fighting them back," Wilkowski says.
Wilkowski received some bruises and scrapes in the attack, but avoided serious injury.
"There was no questions being asked. I just heard 'grab his phone, get this, hit him,' so I just fought back. It was an instinct," Wilkowski said.
At least one teen has been charged in connection with his beating and more have been charged in other reported attacks.
The mob-style attacks -- referred to as "wilding" -- have been on the rise in the last few years downtown.
Al. Brendan Reilly said the police are doing a great job, but there's not enough of them, a concern echoed by FOP President Mike Shields.
The three teens charged with mob robberies over the weekend in Streeterville and along the lakefront appeared in bond court and received bonds from $200,000 to $300,000.
Derodte Wright, 18, Trovolus Pickett, 17, and Dvonte Sykes, 17, are accused of attacking various residents and tourists around the Streeterville and Gold Coast neighborhoods during a series of mob action beatings and thefts.
Al. Brendan Reilly said the police are doing a great job, but there's not enough of them, a concern echoed by FOP President Mike Shields.
Acting Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy addressed the incidents Monday and said he's not satisfied that more arrests have not been made.
