Teenagers across the country have become involved in the dangerous “knockout game,” where participants are challenged to hit or punch a random victim hard enough to render them unconscious. Cases of the game have been reported in San Diego, St. Louis and Chicago, and in Syracuse, New York, two men died after what police believe was another game-related attack.
“It appears these are just random acts of violence,” said former FBI profiler Clint Van Zandt. “There’s no robbery, there’s no rhyme or reason; it’s just simply youths making a decision they’re going to punch somebody out — sometimes as simple as $5 bet between themselves.”
Jim Addlespurger, a schoolteacher from Pennsylvania, was a victim of the game, and was attacked while walking home one day. “I was hit with one punch that knocked me to the cold concrete,” said Addlespurger. “It’s a horrific thing to see, and I’m fortunate that I’m alive here to tell you about it.”
Chuck Williams is an expert on youth violence, and he is attributing the actions of these game participants to the parents and the media. He says that Americans have a fascination with violence, and that kids are encouraged to act out. “That’s America. America loves violence and so do our kids,” Williams said. “We market violence to our children and we wonder why they’re violent. It’s because we are.”
