Viral video shows 12 y/o beaten in Essex by group of kids, father calls for accountability

Baltimore County Police have filed charges against five of the eight juveniles involved in a violent assault on a 12-year-old boy, Kayson Longo, at the Kings Mill Apartments in Essex last Friday. The accused are all at least 13 years old or younger.

The incident, captured on cell phone video and widely circulated on social media, shows Kayson being punched, thrown to the ground, kicked, and having his pants pulled down by a group of young boys. Tony Longo, Kayson’s father, said Wednesday, “At this point, he’s very badly bruised up,” as his son recovers physically and mentally from the attack.

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Tony Longo only became aware of the video this week after it had surfaced. He said his son had not initially told him about the incident but had left home without permission that day. He says, Kayson was confronted by a classmate at the apartment complex, accused of calling the classmate’s girlfriend a derogatory name, which led to the assault.

“Next thing you know, they’re 15 kids surrounding Kayson on top of them brutally beating him,” Tony Longo said. He is now calling for accountability, saying, “Whether you are a juvenile or you are an adult, there has to be consequences,” said Longo. “These type of behavior is unacceptable. To beat my son and then feel as if it’s ok to take his clothes from him, beat him with his clothes, continue to beat him,” he added.

Longo expressed his frustration–then his anger quickly turned to sadness, fighting back tears over what his son suffered, saying, “The bruises. As a father I felt helpless… and I’m trying to protect my family.” He added, “The pain and the thought of my son being left helpless… being beaten. 15 of the kids, his clothes taken… things like that. It’s very disturbing to me, I don’t wanna see that happen to any human being, especially a child.”

In an email Wednesday night, police said, that due to the ages of three of the juveniles, state law prohibits them from bringing charges against them. They also said that based on the information provided, the incident is not believed to be a hate crime.