10 Year Olds Attack, Beat Homeless Man

[matcom]

<snip>

(CNN) -- Egged on by a 17-year-old, two 10-year-old boys joined in the attack of a Florida homeless man, leaving him bruised and bloody, police said.

The incident highlights an upswing in violent crime across the U.S. against the homeless.

In 2006, there were 142 attacks and 20 murders, several involving teenagers seeking a vicious thrill, according to the Washington, D.C.-based National Coalition for the Homeless.

Tuesday's incident, which took place in Daytona Beach, Florida, may make history, said the nonprofit's acting executive director Michael Stoops.

"If we're talking about 10-year-olds, that means we've hit an all-time low," said Stoops. "The youngest person to have ever been arrested for a crime like this is 13."

Daytona Police Sgt. Billy Walden said the teen and two boys were walking in their neighborhood around 9 p.m. when they saw 58-year-old John D'Amico. They began throwing rocks at the homeless man.

The 17-year-old, Jeremy Woods, punched D'Amico who then fell over a concrete wall. As he lay on the ground, one of the 10-year-olds -- whose names are not being released -- used parts of the concrete to bash D'Amico in the head, a police report shows. (Watch cuffed 10-year-olds in court )

D'Amico's eye was severely damaged in the attack. Woods and the two boys were charged with felony aggravated battery and are being held without bond at a juvenile detention center in Daytona Beach, Walden said.

The Volusia County State Attorneys Office received paperwork on the case late Thursday and will make a decision about whether to pursue adult charges, said spokeswoman Linda Pruitt.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/03/29/homeless.attack/index.html?5

[MissMillie]

1. why..... why... why...

why is it that so many youngsters are growing up thinking that hurting someone else will somehow make them "more" (more strong, I think...)

[dropkickpa]

2. Why the hell is a 17 year-old hanging out with

10 year olds? Seriously, there is just something not right about that.

[realisticphish]

3. if this was gang related in any way

that's not uncommon

[sasquatch]

4. Florida?

Man can we put xanax in their drinking water like we do chlorine everywhere else.