The family of a Black disabled high school football player who was sexually assaulted during a vicious attack by three of his white teammates is seeking justice.
The victim, whose name is being withheld because he is a minor, gave a detailed account of the horrific October 2015 incident during a chilling court testimony, according to the Washington Post.
In his own cringe-worthy words, the teen told the story of how he went to reach in for a hug from his three teammates only to be attacked by two of them, who then shoved a coat hanger into his rectum. He says a third teammate then kicked the hanger multiple times, resulting in further injuries.
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“I screamed,” the teen victim recalled during his court testimony. “I was pretty upset. I felt really bad. A little bit betrayed and confused at the same time. It was terrible — a pain I’ve never felt.” Two of the victim’s attackers, ages 17 and 18, will reportedly be tried as adults and face charges of forcible penetration by use of force or a foreign object. The 16-year-old third attacker will be tried in juvenile court.
Additionally court documents obtained by the Washington Post detail the civil lawsuit filed by the victim’s family, who claim the attack was racially motivated and had been preceded by several incidents involving the victim being taunted with racially offensive language from other members of the football team. The suit also names 11 school administrators along with the football team’s coaching staff, some of whom the family says “encouraged” the racist treatment of the victim for months.
The victim’s family is seeking $10 million in damages, according to a civil suit filed in early May.
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