Marcia McNaughton was raised not to be a bystander, so when she saw a group of kids going after a boy at a Langley shopping mall Wednesday, she was among those who tried to intervene.

McNaughton was getting a pedicure at the time at Nail Studio in Willowbrook Shopping Centre, and was among those who noticed a group of kids who looked like they were about Grade 8 or 9 and who seemed to be searching the mall.

鈥淭hey were swearing and running around on their little scooters,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 kept hearing them say 鈥楾here he is. There he is鈥�.鈥� She had stepped out of the salon and spoke to some youths.

鈥淚 was like 鈥楬ey guys, knock it off鈥� They flipped me the bird and told me to pound sand.鈥�

She returned to the salon but the activity in the mall continued. She put on her shoes and decided to wander out.

She followed the sound of noise. The group had caught up with the youth but scattered when she and others approached. She said a youth looked like he was assaulted.

鈥淭here was one kid with a bunch of raspberries on his face. They ripped his shirt. He had about four or five marks on his face,鈥� McNaughton said.

鈥淭he kid who took the punches, he wasn鈥檛 a tiny kid by any stretch, but when you鈥檙e dealing with multiple people you know, he didn鈥檛 have a fighting chance literally.

The assailants took off as more people and security started to assemble. Police arrived. McNaughton encountered an RCMP member who asked whether she could identify any of the kids. She said yes and they started going through the mall. When they came across them, the young people bolted.

One of the kids got away but she identified two youths to the cop. McNaughton said the young people started mouthing off 鈥� 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 do anything. I didn鈥檛 do anything.鈥�

鈥淚 said 鈥楧ude, I鈥檓 a teacher. I teach high school. I could pick you out of anywhere.鈥�

McNaughton said the parents of the youth attacked arrived and spoke to her.

She was later speaking to staff at the nail salon and other mall staff.

鈥淭hey said at the mall, this is happening all the time,鈥� McNaughton noted.

She has worked in the public school system with at-risk youth for about 18 years and has a consulting firm. She鈥檚 experienced working with people who are autistic and others. McNaughton said she鈥檚 never seen youth behaviour as bad as it is today.

鈥淭o be honest like this situation, I think was total group mentality and follow-the-leader kind of thing,鈥� she commented. 鈥淚 did find unfortunately the kids were extremely disrespectful, and I find that a lot more often than I have before.鈥�

McNaughton, the daughter of retired cops said there鈥檚 a real lack of respect for authority, for the people stepping in to say this behaviour was inappropriate and towards the police.

鈥淭here was no filters and no boundaries, telling everyone of us where to go, how to get there, every profanity, including the kids telling the cops 鈥楲ike you can鈥檛 do anything. You can鈥檛 touch me鈥�.鈥�

Langley RCMP Cpl. Craig van Herk said the police dealt with an incident at the shopping centre Tuesday afternoon involving alleged assault suspects and a victim, and the investigation has been concluded.

鈥淥fficers have spoken with the youths and their parents,鈥� he said.

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