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We’ve heard the reports, we’ve witnessed the assaults, we know that random attacks on pedestrians are common, but are they all part of a sick game called “knockout?”

Police are investigating the disturbing new trend, where teens appear to punch strangers with the goal of knocking them unconscious with a single blow, which in many cases has led to serious injury and even death.

In New Jersey, Ralph Santiago, 46, a homeless man, was walking alone in Hoboken on the night of September 10 when he was suddenly struck from behind, said Hoboken Detective Anthony Caruso.

The blow knocked out Santiago, who had a pre-existing brain injury. He suffered a seizure. The victim’s body struck a nearby fence, with part of the wrought iron metal piercing his body and killing him, Caruso said.

The teens involved in Santiago’s attack were caught on tape and arrested a short time later. But the assailants aren’t always caught, and because teens tend to carry out the attack in large groups, it makes it difficult to pinpoint a single perpetrator.

And the attacks, reported in New Jersey, Philadelphia and New York, are spreading to places like Illinois, Missouri and Washington.

One of the latest attacks happened Friday, when someone was allegedly punched on a street in Brooklyn. Police brought four men in for questioning and arrested 28-year-old Amrit Marajh.

Marajh is charged with aggravated assault as a hate crime, assault as a hate crime and assault in the 3rd degree, police said. He was arraigned Saturday, according to Mia Goldberg, spokeswoman for the Kings County District Attorney’s Office.

But the question of why the teenagers are engaging in this activity still remains. According to youth violence expert Chuck Williams, the media and parents are to blame.

“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.”

Good point.

Police are warning pedestrians that looking distracted, checking smartphones or listening to music will make them more vulnerable to assaults.

In the meantime, police are trying to determine how many assaults were actually a part of the “knockout” game or just a random attack. With that challenge in the way, it’s difficult to say if “knockout” is a real game or just a new name for what’s been happening forever.

In any case, stay safe out there.

SOURCE: CNN | VIDEO SOURCE: PIX