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Family Says 15-Year-Old Sexually Assaulted On Facebook Live Is Getting Threats: Reports

By Emma G. Gallegos in News on Mar 22, 2017 9:30PM

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Police lights (Photo by Yevhen Prozhyrko via Shutterstock)

Family members of a 15-year-old girl who was sexually assaulted in an incident broadcast over Facebook Live say that she is being revictimized through online threats and cruel jokes from neighborhood kids.

The teen's mother tells the Associated Press that she and her family have been getting threats on Facebook and that kids in the neighborhood have been ringing the doorbell and asking for the victim. The mother said she has to take her other kids to school, instead of letting them walk.

"This is just disturbing, and to think the kids think it is funny," she said.

Local community activist Andrew Holmes said the threats are coming from people who blame the teen for her assault, and some have threatened harm. Holmes told CBS Chicago, "You know I think they're just as guilty as the people who allegedly committed this assault."

The Lawndale teen has been too scared to return to her home and is staying with other family members, according to reports. Police told CBS they're working to make sure the victim is safe as they investigate the case.

The teen went missing shortly after her uncle dropped her off at home Sunday and didn't resurface until Tuesday. Her mother believes the attack happened Sunday night. It was broadcast live on Facebook, but no one alerted authorities. Police say the teen knew one of her attackers and they're working to identify the others. As many as six males may have been involved in the attack.