Social Media Detective Work is 'Not a Law and Order Episode' -- It's Better

After a brutal attack on a gay couple last week that left both victims hospitalized and one in need of facial surgery, Philadelphia police were left with only grainy surveillance footage to identify the group of attackers. They released the video to the public to help ID the men and women, described as clean cut, 20-somethings — one of whom was wearing an orange sweater vest.

You can see the sweater vest and more of the wardrobe choices of some of the alleged attackers in the photo above, thanks to the efforts of social media detectives — including former Real Housewives of New Jersey cast member Greg Bennett and a Twitter user identified only as @FanSince09.

Melody Kramer of NPR’s Storify and Gawker both have the full (riveting) play-by-play of what happened next, but here is the gist: At 5:41 p.m.