Police in Victoria, Australia, have charged three teenage boys after a 15-year-old boy with autism was lured to a meetup through a fake Snapchat account and then beaten and robbed near a train station in Stawell.
The attack took place on Oct. 5 after the victim was reportedly drawn to the area through a Snapchat exchange arranged with two girls, according to Australian outlet news.com.au. Video of the assault shows a group of teenagers punching and kicking the boy, knocking him to the ground and continuing to strike him as he tried to escape. One attacker can be seen demanding the victim’s shoes before allowing him to leave.
Victoria Police said Tuesday that detectives from the Northern Grampians Crime Investigation Unit had charged a 14-year-old boy and two 15-year-old boys following the investigation. The arrests came after detectives executed four search warrants in the region.
All three face charges of affray, robbery, recklessly causing injury and theft. They are expected to appear in a children’s court at a later date. Police said a fourth boy, who was not present when the warrants were served, would also be interviewed as part of the ongoing investigation.
The victim, who also has epilepsy, suffered soft tissue injuries and possible head injuries, news.com.au reported. His mother said doctors were conducting additional scans to determine whether he had bleeding in his brain.
“I’m just lucky to have him alive. … He’s having nightmares,” the boy’s mother said.
The boy has since returned home but remains afraid to go outside, according to his mother.
Superintendent Dan Davison acknowledged the alarm the attack caused in the Stawell community and said police had moved quickly to identify those responsible.
“Since last Monday, local uniform police and detectives have been working tirelessly to identify those involved and hold them to account, and this important work will continue,” Davison said in a news release. “There is never any excuse for violence in our community, and we will not accept it in any form.”
Davison said detectives are continuing to investigate the matter and, while treating it as an isolated incident, additional patrols will take place across Stawell “to ensure our community not only is safe but feels safe.”
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