Other than the obvious benefits of the various social networks out there; networking, re-connecting and event-planning, amongst other things, recently they have become a serious law-enforcement tool. In the most recent case, New Jersey police used Facebook to track down suspects in a vicious assault case involving a machete-wielding madman.

In the wee hours of the morning on 10 September 2011, two attacks took place in, and outside, the US Chicken Restaurant. In the first case an unnamed victim was attempting to leave the store when he was confronted in the doorway by two men. Blocked from leaving the store, a third attacker, later identified as Omar Villota, 22, approached him from behind and pistol-whipped him. The fight moved out into the street for a short while before rolling back into the store.

Upon their re-entry another man had become entangled in the brawl. The new victim is seen being beaten repeatedly, allegedly by Johel Gomez, 20. Things then took a turn for the worse as a man the Police believe to be Tyree Seegers, 22, began swinging at the victim with a machete.

Despite being struck by the machete at least 14 times, and being repeatedly pistol whipped, Police report that the second victim was not seriously injured. They believe Seegers is actually to thank for this as he was “lousy” with the machete and the only good shot he got in was actually on his own man, Villota, whose arm he almost severed. That injury also left a significant blood trail which helped police track down the attackers.

Struggling for leads, the Police lifted video footage from the store’s surveillance cameras and posted it on their Facebook page. Soon after, Seegers turned himself in due to “pressure from everywhere”.

The first victim remains unidentified and has yet to step forward. At this time it seems that there was no provocation for the attacks however the investigation is still underway.

[Source: CBS New York]