Teen charged with assault in group robbery on MBTA

BOSTON, December 31, 2025 – A Roxbury teen was arraigned Monday in BMC Central on assault charges after joining and filming a group attack and robbery on the MBTA Orange Line, Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced.  

MANNICE MITCHNER, 18, is charged with unarmed robbery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and disorderly conduct on a public conveyance. Mitchner has open cases in West Roxbury, Fall River, Roxbury and Dorchester for breaking and entering, malicious destruction of property, attempted larceny and knowingly receiving stolen property.

Judge Richard Sinnott revoked bail on the open cases and ordered Mitchner to stay away from the victim and all MBTA stations and stops. Mitchner will return to court January 22 for a probable cause hearing.

At about 5:45 p.m. on December 15, seven teens boarded the Orange Line at Downtown Crossing and confronted a passenger. MBTA security footage shows the group approaching the victim and beginning a verbal confrontation which turned physical. The attackers, mostly juveniles, surrounded the victim and five of them punched the victim with closed fists. The group threw the victim to the ground and continued to punch and kick his face and stomach area. The sixth attacker, later identified as Mitchner, was seen approaching the assault with his phone out, recording the incident. Mitchner also kicked the victim in the head. The group eventually took the victim’s shoes and phone before fleeing the train at the Mass Ave Station. Two of the seven juveniles did not engage with the victim physically.

The victim, 18, told police he did not know any of his attackers.

Three of the five juvenile attackers, as well as Mitchner, have been arrested. Officers reviewed the video surveillance from the MBTA and identified two of the juveniles, who were known to Transit Police. Officers located and arrested them on December 16. A member of the Youth Violent Strike Force identified Mitchner and another juvenile attacker in a Transit Police wanted poster, and both were arrested on December 19. The juveniles will be arraigned at a future date.

“This was a frightening experience for this young man and for all the riders who witnessed it. These arrests and prosecutions should serve as warnings to other potential transit offenders—surveillance cameras are in place throughout the system and you will be seen and caught,” Hayden said. 

All charged individuals are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden’s office serves the communities of Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop. Our office handles more than 20,000 cases a year. Nearly 160 assistant district attorneys practice in nine district and municipal courts, Suffolk Superior Court, the Massachusetts Appeals Court, the Boston and Chelsea Juvenile Courts and the Supreme Judicial Court. Our office employs some 300 people and offers a wide range of services and programs for anyone encountering the criminal justice system. We are committed to educating the public about our mission and services while focusing on crime prevention to keep the residents, workers and visitors of Suffolk County safe.

James Borghesani, Chief of Communications