By Staff
Special to The Standard
Investigators with the Escambia County Sheriff's Office have arrested several local young people in connection with an assault of a juvenile near Kirkland Road.
The investigation started when the Escambia County Sheriff's Office received a complaint that a fifteen-year-old boy was assaulted on Monday, April 5, by several young men and women.
The victim, whose name is being withheld because he is a juvenile, stated that he was picked up on Monday afternoon in East Brewton by three of his friends. The friends took him to Murder Creek Road, which is off of Kirkland Road, on the premise of going to just "hang out."
Prior to the friends taking the victim to the location, the word was spread among other students and friends that a fight was going to take place so a large crowd gathered and waited for the vehicle carrying the boys that were to fight. Investigators have identified at least 30 people that were in attendance.
When the victim and his friends arrived at the secluded area, the victim was attacked by the male juvenile "friend." The victim attempted to run down the railroad tracks but was caught by his "friends" and several people that were originally there as spectators.
He was repeatedly assaulted by his "friends" and others.
Captain Chuck McMullen of the Sheriff's Office said, "According to interviews of suspects and spectators, the fight was set up in retaliation for an incident that occurred the previous weekend involving the juvenile who was accused of assaulting an adult female on Pea Ridge Road in Brewton."
Investigators have identified eight adults and one juvenile that actually participated in the assault. The name of the juvenile will not be released.
The following persons turned themselves in to investigators and have been arrested for Assault, Third Degree and were released on bond from the Escambia County Detention Center:
One male juvenile has been charged with Assault, Second Degree for hitting the victim with a stick.
Captain McMullen also said, "It is fortunate that the young man that was assaulted didn't receive any life threatening injuries from the incident but the end result could have been much worse."
The Sheriff's Office arrested an Atmore man for murder last year for hitting another man in the head with a stick and the victim later died in the hospital.