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4 Baltimore Teens Arrested For 'Violent' Carjacking Ring

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Months of joyriding in stolen cars has ended with four Baltimore City teenagers in handcuffs. Prosecutors said the group beat and robbed victims for the thrill of it.

Court documents outline carjackings in Baltimore City and Baltimore County often coupled with beatdowns. In one case, they say the four men pistol-whipped a victim until they broke his nose then stole his car.

Prosecutors said the group posed next to stolen cars and wore stolen car keys like trophies. The teens then posted the photos on social media to brag about the crimes that they'll now have to answer for in court.

Dalante Graham, 18, Tyheim Gray, 19, Daquan Johnson, 18, and Travon Williamston, 17, were indicted on charges related to 26 carjackings or stolen vehicles.

"It looks like they were doing it mostly for the thrill," Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh said.

Court documents said the group worked together between September and December of 2017 to rob, beat and terrorize drivers.

"The defendants were unnecessarily and cavalierly violent," Frosh said. "They left a trail of stolen cars, stolen wallets, stolen phones and broken bones."

Their indictments detail violent attacks, which began as staged fender benders and escalated into beatdowns -- in some cases using pellet guns, knives and handguns -- before the teens would steal the victim's car.

It came to an end when police, at one point, got into a car chase with the suspects -- leading to an investigation that would eventually link them to to the carjackings.

"They need to understand that this type of collaboration exists and that we're simply just not going to tolerate it," Interim Police Commissioner Gary Tuggle said.

Only one of the teens is underaged, but WJZ has learned they will all be charged as adults.

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