COPY Seven charged in stabbing death of 16-year-old broadcast on Snapchat
Seven suspects have been charged with gang assault and an eighth person has been charged with murder over the stabbing death of a teenager that was broadcast on popular video sharing app Snapchat.
Khaseen Morris, 16, was attacked outside a shopping centre in Nassau County, New York, on September 16 while crowds of people watched on but no one intervened.
Vision of the gruesome attack, allegedly motivated by a dispute over a girl, was shared by multiple people via the social media app.
Khaseen was taken to hospital after the attack but died from his injuries, including a stab wound to the chest.
Tyler Flach, 18, was previously charged with murder after allegedly stabbing Khaseen in the chest. He pleaded not guilty and remained in police custody without bail, abcNEWS reported.
Local police estimated between 50 and 70 kids from local high schools were watching as the violent assault unfolded.
Detective Stephen Fitzpatrick from Nassau County police told KOMOV4 at a media conference that he believed the incident was premeditated.
“Kids stood there and didn't help Khaseen. They would rather video this event. They videoed his death instead of helping him,” he said.
Haakim Mechan, 19, Marquis Stephens Jr., 18, Javonte Neals, 18, Taj Woodruff, 17, Sean Merritt, 17, and two 16-year-old male juveniles have been arrested in connection to Khaseen’s death.
Each of the suspects, all from Long Beach, New York, were charged with gang assault.
Nassau Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder announced Saturday (local time) he did not believe the teenagers were part of a gang, but the charges applied because there were three or more people physically harming someone.
Each of the seven teenagers charged over the death, “were active participants in the attack on Khaseen Morris and his friend,” Det. Lt. Stephen Fitzpatrick told media on Saturday.
“Physically beating, physically hitting people, throwing them to the ground, each one of them had an active role,” he said.
As the case prepares to be heard before a grand jury, police have asked others who filmed the event to come forward with their footage as the investigation continues.
