Violent viral video being investigated in NJ sparks outrage on social media

WEST DEPTFORD TWP., New Jersey -- West Deptford Township police are investigating a graphic video posted Tuesday night on Facebook of an assault on a juvenile.

The video has since been viewed more than 2 million times, received more than 38,000 shares and more than 18,500 comments.

Police say the extremely shocking video, taken at a home in National Park, New Jersey, immediately went viral after it was posted online.

In the video, a man - identified as a practitioner of mixed martial arts - is seen beating a juvenile to a pulp.

Since the video was posted, the phones at the West Deptford Police Department have been ringing off the hook.

"It took me back. I was very, very shocked to watch what appears to be a juvenile just getting assaulted for no reason at all," said West Deptford Township Police Chief Samuel DiSimone.

Police say they have identified everyone in the video, and have made contact with them as they begin to investigate. They say the beaten juvenile is OK, and is not related to the apparent assailant.

"They do know each other so we've made certain that they're not gonna see each other, they're not gonna come together, have any interaction between the two," said DiSimone.

We went to the man's home on Wednesday, but no one was answering the door. Some teenagers who had seen the video on Facebook had gone looking for him, outraged with what they had seen.

On their Facebook page, police are urging people not to take matters into their own hands, and to refrain from posting any threats on social media or otherwise.

They want to assure everyone the juvenile is safe and is no longer in any danger.

Police say once their investigation is complete, they will take the appropriate action.