Dorchester teenagers charged with attacking elderly Christmas carolers
DORCHESTER – Boston police are seeking charges against two teenagers who allegedly attacked a group of elderly Christmas carolers in Dorchester. It happened Sunday on Johnston Road around 3 p.m.
Veronica Trotman is still upset about what happened in front of her home. "We have been out here for 40 years and never encountered anything like that," Trotman said.
Carolers from the Church of the Holy Spirit in Mattapan were there to sing to Trotman's 88-year-old mother. She's recovering from a stroke and is paralyzed on one side of her body.
"I brought my mom to the window so she could hear it. I saw the two guys come across the street, but I didn't know what they were going to do," Trotman said.
Suddenly, that caroling stopped and screams started. While the singers were facing the home, two of them were punched multiple times in the back of the head.
"I couldn't believe it. I could not believe it," said neighbor Kimberly.
Neighbors heard the cries for help. Witnesses say the two carolers injured are women in their late 70s.
"I just seen the ladies crying and I came outside because I heard the old lady cry and the people saying they got hit," said Jalen Apperwhite. "I just wanted to check on her and make that sure everybody was OK."
According to the police report, the teens walked across the street, counted to three and started punching. One woman says she was hit three to five times in the head and has a concussion. The other refused treatment on scene.
Trotman and her mother listened to the screams from upstairs. "I don't know what would make them do something like that, but I felt really bad because she is an elderly lady," Trotman said.
Witnesses provided descriptions of the suspects. According to police, a 15-year-old and boy and 16-year-old boy later admitted to the attacks.
Police will seek criminal complaints against both in Dorchester District Court on a charge of assault and battery on a person 60 and over.
Police are looking to see if the teens were playing the "knockout game", a viral trend with the goal of knocking out unsuspecting people.
Neighbors want accountability. "It was horrible. I was actually about to come out here and do some caroling with them," said Kimberly.
"It's crazy. That's wild. If that's your idea of fun, I don't know but, if that was my grandmother, you ain't playing like that," said Apperwhite.