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Ok here is another twist. You see it happen and the kids are running your direction after it happened, do you draw on them to detain for police, let them run on by and help the victim. Remember they have proven to be a threat and WILL more then likely do it again to someone, even your wife or mother.

If I don't feel directly and imminently threatened, my sidearm will not be drawn. Until that point, I will simply try to be a good witness and help the victim.

In the case of violent criminals (and these kids fit that bill), I agree with Uncle Ted's comment, "I don't like repeat offenders; I prefer dead offenders." I am not law enforcement and if the kids have moved past the criminal act any act of mine needs to be in consideration of my safety within legal parameters. I have no training or duty to detain suspects and will not attempt to do so. I am not a vigilante and will not seek "street justice" that could imperil my liberty.

Awareness buys time / options. When time is up and options are exhausted, the firearm can become a force option in the face of multiple attackers. When the firearm is used, though, other people get to decide whether it was a justifiable use of force based on the facts that are gathered and presented to them. If your choices up to and through the event are deemed reasonable by these third parties after the fact and not in the moment, you will be exonerated. If not.... With this in mind, avoidance where possible is certainly a good fist option. De-escalation / deterrence by ensuring that potential attackers are aware of your awareness and adopting a defensive posture may be good second options before you get to the point of using other tools. Neither of these is possible without good, practiced awareness along with ongoing consideration of possible safety-enhancing actions.