Philly case rekindles debate on vigilante justice

Published



A dozen neighbors were so outraged by the rape of an 11-year-old girl that they chased a suspect and beat him, holding him until police arrived. Two of them were honored with an $11,500 police union reward even before the beaten man was charged in the girl’s assault.

Hailed by their community as heroes, none of the neighbors is being charged in the beating. But police officials, acknowledging the fine line between praise and prosecution, warned against vigilante justice in general.

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