Teen Faces Prison In Beating Posted On Facebook
FLINT (WWJ/AP) - A 17-year-old faces the prospect of time behind bars when sentenced next month in the beating of a 14-year-old Flint boy that was recorded on video and posted on Facebook.
Genesee County Circuit Court records say Lavonte Kennedy is due in court May 29 to learn his punishment. He pleaded guilty Wednesday to assault with harm less than murder.
Kennedy and two other Flint teens also were charged with unarmed robbery.
The 14-year-old's mother said video of the Jan. 27 attack was posted on a Facebook page of one attacker. She said at least 25 people clicked Facebook's "like" button in response to the video, which has since been taken down.
According to a police report, the Northern High School student was walking on the city's west side on when three teens that he recognized as schoolmates attacked him. The boy told police he believed the attack was unprovoked.
The video shows two teens abruptly attacking the teen for almost a minute before he was able to run away. The Flint Journal published an edited version of the video on its website. (Warning: Video contains graphic images.)
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