Four people in Chicago have been arrested after they were seen on a disturbing video beating a mentally challenged man, police said.
In what police described as a “sickening” video, which was broadcast on Facebook live, the victim is seen cowering in the corner of the room with his mouth covered as his attackers laugh and as they kick and punch him.
The suspects yell “f— Donald Trump” and “f— white people” during the assault, and one portion of the 30-minute video shows someone using a knife to cut into the victim’s scalp.
CPD press conference regarding disturbing live social media video depicting a battery ; victim was tied up https://t.co/jDrjfz4sJV
— Chicago Police (@Chicago_Police) January 5, 2017
When police officers encountered the 18-year-old man with special needs on the street Tuesday night, they said they could tell he was “in crisis.”
He was so traumatized by the ordeal that it took most of the night for him to calm down to relay the events to authorities, the Chicago Police Department said in a press conference Wednesday night.
The suspects – two men and two women all age 18 – are expected to be formally charged today. Police said that hate crime charges are under consideration since the suspects, who were black, said “f— white people” several times during the video.
Regarding the disturbing video that surfaced on social media of a battery: Incident is under investigation/suspects are being questioned pic.twitter.com/GGi3qs9rGv
— Chicago Police (@Chicago_Police) January 4, 2017
The victim, from a nearby suburb, knew at least one of the suspects from school, police said. He may have voluntarily gotten into a van with the group, police said. Kidnapping charges are also under consideration.
He had been reported missing by his parents, who had not seen him since dropping him off at a McDonald’s on Saturday, CNN reported. The victim may have been captive for 24 to 48 hours.
Police believe the suspects eventually unbound the victim and let him go.
Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said he did not believe the attack was politically motivated and that it’s possible it was little more than people “ranting about something they think might be a headline.” Johnson called the video “sickening.”
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