Broward County deputies arrested two teenagers seen on video brutally attacking an LGBTQ teen at a neighborhood park, officials said Wednesday.
It’s unclear if a third teenager seen on the video will face charges.
It’s the second time 14-year-old Chad Sanford, who no longer attends the school, was attacked. In 2021, Sanford made national headlines after being attacked and slammed to the ground by a group of older kids at Deerfield Beach Middle School as others just watched.
In the most recent attack, Chad received an invite to hang out with a group of young people thought to be friends.
“They came behind me and jumped me,” said Chad, who added that the assailants said, “Don’t come around me with that gay (expletive).”
Chad’s grandmother, who asked for her identity to be protected, said the past year hasn’t been easy.
“Just let Chad be Chad,” she said. “Guys was spitting on him on the bus and treating him any kind of way because of his transgender and life of what he want to be. I’m just frustrated.”
Deputies said the two teens were being charged with battery and a crime of prejudice under Florida law, both misdemeanors.
“I am utterly heartbroken, angry and devastated,” attorney Melba Pearson, a former prosecutor who know works for FIU’s Center for Administration of Justice, said.
Pearson said the case should be “150 percent” charged as a hate crime. But she says she doesn’t think incarceration will solve the issue.
“I think that they need counseling. I think that they need to be held accountable, whether it be (through) community service, other aspects, but they need to learn that this behavior is wrong, because they were taught this somehow,” she said. “They didn’t just wake up one day and decide to attack someone because they’re transgender.”
If the two teenagers were charged with a federal hate crime, they could receive up to five years in prison.
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It’s unclear if a third teenager seen on the video will face charges.
It’s the second time 14-year-old Chad Sanford, who no longer attends the school, was attacked. In 2021, Sanford made national headlines after being attacked and slammed to the ground by a group of older kids at Deerfield Beach Middle School as others just watched.
In the most recent attack, Chad received an invite to hang out with a group of young people thought to be friends.
“They came behind me and jumped me,” said Chad, who added that the assailants said, “Don’t come around me with that gay (expletive).”
Chad’s grandmother, who asked for her identity to be protected, said the past year hasn’t been easy.
“Just let Chad be Chad,” she said. “Guys was spitting on him on the bus and treating him any kind of way because of his transgender and life of what he want to be. I’m just frustrated.”
Deputies said the two teens were being charged with battery and a crime of prejudice under Florida law, both misdemeanors.
“I am utterly heartbroken, angry and devastated,” attorney Melba Pearson, a former prosecutor who know works for FIU’s Center for Administration of Justice, said.
Pearson said the case should be “150 percent” charged as a hate crime. But she says she doesn’t think incarceration will solve the issue.
“I think that they need counseling. I think that they need to be held accountable, whether it be (through) community service, other aspects, but they need to learn that this behavior is wrong, because they were taught this somehow,” she said. “They didn’t just wake up one day and decide to attack someone because they’re transgender.”
If the two teenagers were charged with a federal hate crime, they could receive up to five years in prison.
Continue reading...