Three teenagers arrested and accused of beating a 64-year-old homeless man in Tampa are being charged as adults with second-degree attempted murder.
According to the Office of the State Attorney, 13th Judicial Circuit, on July 13, the three teens, 13-year-old S, 14-year-old Corliss Sirmons, and 16-year-old J, admitted to authorities that they were looking for homeless people “to mess with” because “they were bored.”
The teens told police that they beat the victim repeatedly after they found him outside the Walgreens located at 3917 N. Nebraska Avenue.
The Office of the State Attorney reports that police found the victim lying on the ground with cuts on his face, significant swelling, and a crooked nose. The man was taken to the hospital and treated for a traumatic brain injury, broken ribs, and severe injuries covering his body.
The man was put on a medically necessary ventilator due to the beating and was unable to tell police what had happened.
“Charging a juvenile as an adult is one of the most serious decisions we make, and it is never one we take lightly,” State Attorney Lopez said. “But we also have a responsibility to protect this community and stand up for victims who cannot stand up for themselves. These defendants went looking for a homeless person to target because they were bored. They found a vulnerable older man and beat him so brutally that he was left with a traumatic brain injury and unable to speak for himself from his hospital bed. No human being should be treated as a target for someone else’s entertainment. Given the severity of the violence and the disturbing nature of these defendants’ actions, these charges are appropriate and necessary to hold each defendant accountable for this crime.”
The three teens will be transferred from a juvenile detention center to adult court, the Office of the State Attorney reports. They also said that during pretrial detention, the SAO said they will request that the judge hold the three juveniles without bond until trial.
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Source: Wfla
