In a tearful press conference at the First African Methodist Episcopal Church on Capitol Hill this afternoon, the family of Aiesha Steward-Baker said police failed to respond to the 15-year-old girl's repeated pleas for help before she was brutally beaten and robbed by a group of young men and women in a downtown bus tunnel.

Letta Steward-Baker, the mother of 15-year-old Aiesha Steward-Baker, cried as she told a crowd of reporters how her daughter "asked the officers for help three times and was sent on her way."

Aiesha Steward-Baker's attorney, James Bible—also the President of the NAACP's Seattle chapter—told reporters implied that police failed to act because of Steward-Baker's race. "If this young lady had blond hair and blue eyes, what would have happened?," Bible asked reporters, adding that there is a "substantial likelihood lawsuits will be filed" as a result of the officers' inaction. "What would have happened if there wasn't a video? Would anyone be here right now?," he said.

A number of rumors and allegations about the history between Aiesha Steward-Baker and her attackers has surfaced this week,including allegations that she pepper sprayed a member of the group prior to the assault, and that she and her attacker had dated the same boy. Court records also show Aiesha Steward-Baker has previously been in trouble with the law, and she has previously been charged with assault and theft.

Aiesha did not directly address questions from the media, but leaned over and whispered to her attorney, Bible, who responded to reporters' questions.

Addressing a rumor that Aiesha had dated one of the suspects involved in the incident, Aiesha, speaking through Bible, says she did not date the boy but stated that he previously had a crush on her. Bible also dismissed allegations that Steward-Baker had pepper sprayed a member of the group which later attacked her, and declined to address whether she had previously fought with her attacker. "it's not unusual for bullies to say [the victim] was the perpetrator," Bible said.

During the meeting, Seattle police released a statement about the incident, announcing that police will review the handling of the incident:

Interim Chief John Diaz has initiated an internal review in an effort to answer this question and to address the larger issue of how the King County Sheriff’s Office and the Seattle Police Department can jointly address public safety priorities for citizens who use public transportation within the City of Seattle.  Towards this end, Chief Diaz has reached out to King County Sheriff Sue Rahr, who commands the King County Metro Transit Police.

Seattle Police Department spokesman Sean Whitcomb, confirmed that Aiesha contacted officers prior to the assault, who advised her to "go home and be safe."

"These officers were aware of two groups [of young men and women]," Whitcomb says. "One group in particular that seemed to be antagonistic. The officers did everything they could to sepreate the parties and keep the peace." Whitcomb says that officers were not advised of any threats or other illegal activity which would have allowed police to take "more decisive action."