A Southern California man recalls the terrifying moment he was violently beaten by a group of teen bicyclists in Los Angeles.
The incident happened on Feb. 22 as the victim, Maurice Benaim, 28, was driving near San Vicente Boulevard and McCarthy Vista in the Carthay neighborhood near Beverly Hills around 5 p.m.
That’s when he spotted a group of 20-30 juvenile bicyclists performing stunts and blocking traffic.
When he honked his horn, the crowd appeared agitated. Someone in the group approached his vehicle and broke his tail light while repeatedly kicking his car. That’s when Benaim decided to step out of his vehicle.
Cell phone video of the incident showed the mob of teens quickly descending on Benaim as they knocked him to the ground and began brutally punching, kicking and beating him.
One of the teen suspects jumped on top of Benaim’s car and began kicking at the windshield, eventually shattering it.
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The victim, Maurice Benaim, 28, was left with lacerations, bruises, head trauma, extensive pain, potentially fractured ribs and emotional trauma after the assault. (KTLA) -
Cell phone video captured the moment Maurice Benaim was surrounded by a group of teen bicyclists and violently beaten in a mob-style attack near Beverly Hills on Feb. 22, 2025. (Tyler Johnson) -
Cell phone video captured the moment Maurice Benaim was surrounded by a group of teen bicyclists and violently beaten in a mob-style attack near Beverly Hills on Feb. 22, 2025. (Tyler Johnson) -
The victim was left unconscious and lying in the middle of the road after the beating on Feb. 22, 2025. (Tyler Johnson) -
A teen suspect jumped on top of Maurice Benaim’s car and destroyed his vehicle’s windshield on Feb. 22, 2025. (Maurice Benaim) -
Cell phone video captured the moment Maurice Benaim was surrounded by a group of teen bicyclists and violently beaten in a mob-style attack near Beverly Hills on Feb. 22, 2025. (Tyler Johnson) -
Cell phone video captured the moment Maurice Benaim was surrounded by a group of teen bicyclists and violently beaten in a mob-style attack near Beverly Hills on Feb. 22, 2025. (Tyler Johnson) -
Cell phone video captured the moment Maurice Benaim was surrounded by a group of teen bicyclists and violently beaten in a mob-style attack near Beverly Hills on Feb. 22, 2025. (Tyler Johnson)
“They kind of surrounded me and I’m just trying to stay conscious,” Benaim recalled. “There was a point where I thought, ‘Okay, this is happening. There’s not much I can do. I’m clearly outnumbered.’ I was just trying to protect my face and maybe cause less head trauma.”
Police described the attack as a mob-style beating. As several good Samaritans stepped out of their cars to help the victim, the group of teens fled the scene, leaving Benaim lying unconscious on the road.
Benaim said he was left with lacerations, bruises, head trauma, extensive pain, potentially fractured ribs and emotional trauma.
“It was so frightening to see all of these boys jump on this guy,” said Chantelle Ameli, Benaim’s attorney.
“There was just no reason for any of it, really,” Benaim said.
As the victim recovers, he said he’s thankful for the community of support he’s received from his friends and loved ones.
“We’re being numbed,” said Yasmile Benaim, the victim’s mother. “We’re being numbed to all of this violence.”
She said she hopes the parents of these teenagers consider speaking with their kids about the devastating consequences of violent behavior.
“How would you feel if that was your kid who got hurt the way my son was hurt?” she asked the teens’ parents. “It’s a miracle that it didn’t escalate [even further.]”
On Friday, Los Angeles police confirmed two juvenile suspects were arrested in connection with the assault. The rest of the suspects, who are all likely between 16-18 years old, remain at large.
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Police are searching for a group of teen suspects, all likely between 16-18 years old, who are wanted in connection with a violent assault on a driver on Feb. 22, 2025. (Los Angeles Police Department) -
Police are searching for a group of teen suspects, all likely between 16-18 years old, who are wanted in connection with a violent assault on a driver on Feb. 22, 2025. (Los Angeles Police Department) -
Police are searching for a group of teen suspects, all likely between 16-18 years old, who are wanted in connection with a violent assault on a driver on Feb. 22, 2025. (Los Angeles Police Department) -
Police are searching for a group of teen suspects, all likely between 16-18 years old, who are wanted in connection with a violent assault on a driver on Feb. 22, 2025. (Los Angeles Police Department) -
Police are searching for a group of teen suspects, all likely between 16-18 years old, who are wanted in connection with a violent assault on a driver on Feb. 22, 2025. (Los Angeles Police Department) -
Police are searching for a group of teen suspects, all likely between 16-18 years old, who are wanted in connection with a violent assault on a driver on Feb. 22, 2025. (Los Angeles Police Department)
“My heart goes out to the young man who was assaulted and his family, and I’m relieved to hear that he is recovering,” said L.A. City Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky. “LAPD is actively investigating this incident, and while law enforcement has not indicated they think this was a hate crime, any act of violence like this is unacceptable. I urge anyone with information to come forward to help hold those responsible accountable.”
Anyone with information on the incident or the suspects is urged to call LAPD Wilshire Division Detective Carlos at 213-922-8229. The public can also call the LAPD at 1-877-527-3247.
Anonymous tips can be provided to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org.
A GoFundMe page to help Benaim with medical expenses can be found here.
