E-biking SoCal teens accused of violence arrested

A video of a group of young e-bikers beating a man near the Hermosa Beach Pier until one shouted “He’s dead, he’s dead” sent waves of outrage through the tight-knit beach community this week.

On Wednesday, the Hermosa Beach Police Department said they have identified the five teenagers involved in the attack. Their ages range from 13 to 15 years. Two men accused of being the primary attackers are in custody.

Two juveniles were booked into the city jail on suspicion of felony assault and will be transported to juvenile hall. Police said their case will be forwarded to the LA County District Attorney’s Office Juvenile Division for consideration.

The group attacked a 56-year-old resident near 11th Court and Beach Drive around 8 p.m. Friday, police said. Officials said the resident had passed his designated location to initiate contact with the youths and did not appear to have been targeted.

Surveillance camera footage shows the teenagers surrounding the man, knocking him to the ground and then repeatedly punching and kicking him.

Officers responded to a 911 call for an assault and took the victim to the hospital. He was pulled over and interviewed by officers on Monday. Information about his condition or injuries was not shared.

In the days following the attack, police spoke with the parents of the teenagers involved and played numerous phone calls, emails and videos submitted by the community as demands for accountability intensified.

“We recognize that the videos circulating are disturbing,” the department said in a statement Wednesday. “As with all cases, we take this seriously and appreciate the community’s patience while we continue to work on this case. We sincerely thank those who trusted the process and allowed our team to focus on the facts and evidence.”

The attack was the latest in a series of incidents involving teenagers on electric bikes in the South Bay communities of Manhattan Beach, El Segundo and Redondo Beach. Youths riding electric bikes have also been accused of setting off fireworks at the busy Hermosa Beach Pier, as well as blocking streets and attacking residents.

The city of Hermosa Beach enacted an emergency ordinance in June 2024 aimed at curbing the dangerous behavior of motorcyclists. The ordinance requires minors to wear helmets on e-bikes, prohibits riding e-bikes under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and bans e-bikes on Green Belt trails. Juveniles who violate the law can have their electric vehicles confiscated.

The police department has issued 40 e-bike citations this year as of Nov. 13 and has confiscated 19 e-bikes since the law was passed.

Anyone with additional information about the latest attack is asked to contact the Hermos Beach Police Department at (310) 318-0360.