'Racially Motivated Attempted Murder' Leads To Indictment Of Cape Cod Teenager

CHATHAM, MA — A grand jury on Cape Cod has indicted a teenager for their role in what the Cape and Islands District Attorney's Office said is a "racially motivated attempted murder"

A 14-year-old white juvenile was indicted on attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon charges relating to a July 19 crime at Goose Pond in Chatham.

Three people, including two white juvenile teenagers and a black juvenile, met at the pond, officials said. Upon arrival and after initial contact, the 14-year-old charged with the crime picked up a stone, threatened the victim with it and called the victim a “N*****”, officials said.

Prior to entering the water, the victim put on his life jacket and informed the other juveniles that he could not swim. The juvenile defendant, other juvenile and victim entered the water together.

Once in the water the juvenile defendant proceeded to pull on the victim’s life jacket and submerged him underwater four to five times, causing the victim "breathing distress," officials said.

The third juvenile laughed at the victim during the attempted drowning and referred to the victim as “George Floyd”. The attack continued as the juvenile defendant swam underneath the victim and attempted to grab his feet to again pull him underwater.

The incident concluded when the victim started yelling for someone on the beach to help. A bystander entered the water and intervened, assisting the victim to the shore, officials said.

The charges stem from an investigation by the Chatham Police Department. After a dangerousness hearing in Barnstable Juvenile Court on Aug. 31, Judge Silvia Gomes found the juvenile defendant dangerous. The juvenile defendant is held without bail, and is due back in court on September 13 for a pretrial conference in the Barnstable Juvenile Court.