Spfld. teens allegedly beat gay man

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - Nine teens and preteens were arrested for allegedly beating and robbing an openly gay man at a Springfield park Tuesday morning. The 30 year-old victim was badly hurt in the attack, which police are labeling a hate crime.

According to Springfield Police Sergeant John Delaney, Shay Andre Edwards, 19, of Springfield was arrested on charges of unarmed robbery and violation of civil rights with injury. Four other teen boys and four teen girls are also facing the same charges in connection with the attack. Their identities are not being released because they are underage. Delaney says the attackers ranged in age from 12 to 19 years old.

According to Delaney, before 3:00 Tuesday morning, the group saw the 30 year-old man walking by Barrows Park. They called out to the man, telling him to enter the park, but he kept walking. That was when they allegedly knocked him to the ground. The male teens punched him in the face and kicked him in the head and stomach, while the females of the group cheered them on. All the while, the group members allegedly yelled out anti-gay slurs. The group allegedly took his MP3 player before running off.

The victim, who was on his way home from downtown, had called police after the attack, and gave them a description of his attackers. Police called for an ambulance, which brought him to Baystate Medical Center, where he was treated for head trauma and other injuries. He has since been released.

Police saw the alleged attackers, who matched the victim’s description, on State Street; less than a quarter mile from where the man was assaulted and robbed. One of the juvenile suspects was found to have the victim’s MP3 player. The suspects were brought to the hospital where they were identified by the victim.

People who frequent the park told 22News that the crime is upsetting. "It's shocking, you know it's kind of bad to hear because you think this has been something that people have been aware of for some time and you think we'd be over it by now, but obviously it's still a problem," James Grand of Springfield said.

Edwards is being arraigned in Springfield District Court.