Three teen boys are facing attempted murder charges after attacking and injuring unhoused people in Tampa earlier this month because they were “bored,” police said.
The assaults began early on July 13, according to a news release from the Tampa Police Department. About 2:30 that morning, the boys approached a man in his 40s and a woman in her 30s who were resting in the 800 block of East Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, “verbally antagonized” them and threw rocks at the pair, police said.
At least one of the rocks hit the woman in the back of the head. She was not seriously injured.
Roughly five hours later and a quarter-mile away, officers patrolling in the 3900 block of North Nebraska Avenue about 7:45 a.m. found a severely injured man lying unresponsive behind a business. The man, who is in his 60s, was taken to a local hospital with critical injuries, including a traumatic brain injury, according to police. The man remained on a ventilator as of Tuesday.
Detectives determined the attacks were connected, obtained images of three suspects and tentatively identified them. As the investigation was still underway, the three boys, ages 13, 14 and 16, were taken into custody in connection to a series of auto burglaries on East Emma Street, police said.
While the teens were in custody, investigators recovered clothing and other evidence that linked them to the two attacks.
The 13- and 16-year-old boys are being charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon evidencing prejudice and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. The third teen faces charges of attempted murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon evidencing prejudice. All three boys are also charged with six counts of auto burglary.
The Tampa Bay Times is not naming the boys in this story because the Hillsborough State Attorney’s Office has not yet decided whether the teens will be charged as adults. A spokesperson for the office said Wednesday that the teens are being held until a charging decision is made.
“Preliminary findings in the assault investigations revealed that the group had planned to harass and assault homeless individuals for entertainment because they were ‘bored,'” police said in the news release.
Police said anyone with information about the case can call 813-231-6130 or submit tips anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 800-873-8477.