10-Year-Olds Accused in Homeless Beating | Hate, Violence, and Death on Main Street USA

[Sapphire Blue]

10-Year-Olds Accused in Homeless Beating
JIM ELLIS | AP | March 30, 2007 09:47 PM EST

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — A homeless Army veteran was recovering in a hospital Friday after two 10-year-old boys and a teenager were accused of attacking him on a street and smashing a concrete block into his face.

The three boys were in custody on aggravated battery allegations and face a hearing next week to determine if they should remain in juvenile detention.

At their first court appearance, the two younger boys were escorted from jail in oversized white jumpsuits, their hands chained in front of them and their legs in shackles.

"They are dangerous," the 57-year-old victim, John D'Amico, told The Associated Press from his hospital bed. "The street doesn't need them. They need to be somewhere."

(snip)

D'Amico said he fell into a wall after the 17-year-old punched him in the face, breaking the brick wall. One of the 10-year-olds then slammed a piece of the broken wall onto his face, he said.

(snip)

D'Amico, a New York native and day laborer, said he slid into homelessness after injuring his knee two years ago. Having no health insurance, he lost his car and a landscaping business. He could no longer make money as a baseball umpire because he couldn't run. Everything he owns now fits into a backpack, which he was wearing the night of the attack.


Continued @ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20070330/homeless-beating

Hate, Violence, and Death on Main Street USA
February 2007

Violent Crimes against the Homeless on the Rise

Contact: Michael Stoops [phone], ext. 19; [e-mail]

Please click here to read the hate crimes report.

Please click here to read the CNN story: "Teen 'sport killings' of homeless on the rise"


Washington, DC – Reported incidents of attacks against homeless men and women have reached their highest level in years, according to a study by the National Coalition for the Homeless. NCH’s report, Hate, Violence, and Death on Main Street USA: A Report on Hate Crimes and Violence Against People Experiencing Homelessness 2006, details the 142 violent crimes, against homeless individuals in the past year, the highest number of incidents since NCH’s annual study began in 1999. Attacks have increased 65% from last year, and over 170% since five years ago. This year’s attacks, which include beatings, stabbings, burnings, and rape resulted in 20 fatalities

Even more disturbing than the violence of these attacks are the identities of the attackers and their motives. In a significant number of cases, the crimes were committed by teenagers and young adults, for no apparent reason other than boredom. This March in Orlando, FL, August Felix, age 54, was beaten to death by five teenagers. The youths, all between the ages of 13 and 16, attacked Felix and others “for sport,” according to local police. Later that same month, 21-year-old Braymond Harris of Detroit was shot and killed by a 15-year-old boy. In the words of one Detroit police officer, the boy and his friends “just wanted to beat up a bum.”

“It is NCH’s position that many of these acts should be considered hate crimes” said Michael Stoops, Executive Director of NCH. “Crimes against homeless people are motivated by the same intolerance as hate crimes against people of a certain religious, racial, or ethnic background.”

Currently, federal law does not list housing status as potential motivation for a hate crime, though NCH and others are gaining ground in their battle to add homelessness to new hate crimes legislation. Such bills have been introduced into five state legislatures: California, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, and Texas.

For the complete report, as well as those of past years, click here





Violence and Hate Crimes Against Homeless Americans in 2006, By State and City


http://www.nationalhomeless.org/getinvolved/projects/hatecrimes/pressrelease.html

[philosophie_en_rose]

1. I don't know what to write.

This is so heartbreaking. A guy loses his job and his home, and then is senselessly beaten by punks.

:cry:

How many people are one injury away from being in the same position?

[roody]

2. You'd think the police state we live in could be

useful here.

[DCKit]

3. Lock their parents up too

This kind of hate is learned in the home, probably in front of the TV as well.

I don't care what the game companies say, violence in video games translates to violence in real life.

[revolve]

5. So there was no violence before video games?

I think you have the cause and effect in reverse. Violent people are drawn to violent video games, the video games do not make the people violent.

[Odin2005]

9. Bullshit. I'm sich of the anti-video game crap

If playing Doom makes you go on a rampage you have underlying mental issues that have nothing to do with the video game, like how the Columbine shooters were bullied.

[EdwardM]

11. I own about 1,000 video games.

I am a video game enthusiast of the highest grade.

I own a Nintendo, Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, Sega Dreamcast, Game Boy Color, Game Boy advance, Nintendo DS, Sony PSP, Playstation, Playstation 2, Xbox, Xbox 360, Nintendo 64, Nintendo Gamecube, and Nintendo Wii.


I have never started a fight or for that matter beaten a homeless man to death.

[Monkeyman]

4. You knew I be here

This happens why to much. It seems homeless are targets by pukes who should know better. Kick for the Homeless with 250,000 of them being veterans

[Karenina]

6. These incidents are a very profound statement

about American society.

[salin]

7. indeed

:cry:

K & R Lest we not notice what we are becoming. Ten year olds... :cry: the hate and violence so easy at such a young age.

[Canuckistanian]

8. Hey, there's Democratic voter fraud out there

Prosecutors can't be EVERYWHERE, you know. :sarcasm:

Seriously, what kind of a nation is America becoming? Is this the Land of the Free, Brave, etc.?

It's beginning to look like every man/woman for them self.

[roguevalley]

10. little bastards need caging. their parents need a penalty too. anyone

who would attack a man like this is dangerous. wait until the little fuckers are sixteen. we get the society we deserve and isn't it as sad as it gets.

[Sapphire Blue]

14. The "little bastards" needed love... which it seems they didn't get; instead, they learned to hate.

And the rest of us will pay the price, unless/until love takes hold.

[roguevalley]

15. true. sigh.

[Jcrowley]

12. K&R

[hang a left]

13. First of all I think it is the older child that instigated the assault...

Furthermore, I wonder what two ten year olds were doing hanging out with a 17 year old for christs sake?? I blame the parents first and forever. A child doesn't do hateful things unless that is what they are taught OR they are acting out on abuse that has been perpetrated against them.

Adding to that comment: Where is the supervision?? I realize that some families cannot afford child care, so that in and of itself is a huge problem in the inner-cities. Perhaps this is a social ill that needs to be addressed. Not by this administration I am sure.

Children are born Perfect!! It is the parents that screw them up!