Four men have been arrested in Florida after a disturbing video emerged showing a disabled teenager being repeatedly assaulted during a Halloween gathering in a forest.
Cody Stripling, 18, and Sebastian Bowers, 19, were initially arrested in connection with the alleged attack, which took place during a bonfire at Tiger Bay Forest on Halloween.
The Volusia Sheriff’s Office subsequently announced that Logan Levesque and Casey Knight, both 18, had also been arrested on Wednesday over their alleged involvement.
All four suspects face multiple charges, including aggravated abuse of a disabled person, battery by strangulation and aggravated battery.
Disabled Victim Left With Serious Injuries
According to investigators, the assault lasted between 30 and 40 minutes and left the 19-year-old victim with severe injuries.
Sheriff Mike Chitwood described the teenager as someone who essentially has only one arm, expressing disgust at the alleged violence directed towards him.
“They’re all looking at felonies, and they’re looking at something that’s going to follow them for the rest of their lives,” Chitwood said.
The sheriff also condemned the attackers for targeting someone with a physical disability.
“It makes you want to throw up. You’re beating an individual that basically has one arm… and you think it’s cool,” he added.
Disturbing Video Captures the Attack
Footage released by the sheriff’s office showed several young men surrounding the victim, who was sitting on the tailgate of a truck.
The group was heard repeatedly directing racial slurs at the teenager. Authorities confirmed to the Daily Mail that the victim is white.
After verbally confronting him, one of the men allegedly struck him in the face before two others joined the assault.
The attackers subsequently pulled the teenager to the ground and continued hitting him.
A woman could be heard pleading with them to stop as the violence unfolded.
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The victim appeared to be covered in blood and repeatedly asked the men what he had done to deserve the treatment.
“What did I do to y’all?” he was heard saying.
The footage also captured the attackers spitting on him and continuing the assault.
At one point, the person recording the incident moved the phone close to the victim’s face and repeatedly instructed him to smile while the others appeared to celebrate the violence.
Police Release Footage of Arrests
The sheriff’s office also released footage showing the arrests of Stripling and Bowers.
During the arrest, Bowers asked an officer whether he and Stripling would be held in the same jail facility.
The officer responded that they could be separated.
Levesque and Knight were arrested on Wednesday as investigators continued pursuing the case.
All four men have been charged with aggravated abuse of a disabled person, battery by strangulation and aggravated battery.
Logan Levesque’s Father Distances Himself From Son
Following the arrests, Tony Levesque, Logan’s father, publicly addressed the allegations and disclosed that he had offered to help investigators with their case against his son.
In an Instagram post, he revealed that he and Logan had been estranged for nearly two years because of his son’s decisions and behaviour.
“We have been estranged for nearly two years because of his life choices, his actions, and my fear that something like this could one day become a reality,” he wrote.
He added that the alleged conduct did not reflect the values and principles he had tried to teach his son.
“This is not the man I raised him to be, nor does this behavior reflect the morals, values or respect for human life I worked to instill in him.”
Tony also stated that he would not provide his son with financial or legal assistance.
Father Apologises to Victim and Family
The father also issued a public apology to the injured teenager and his family, acknowledging the seriousness of the alleged assault.
He expressed sympathy for the victim, noting that the consequences of the incident could extend beyond his physical injuries.
“I am truly sorry beyond what words can express.
No one deserves to experience such senseless violence.
While physical wounds may heal, the emotional scars can last a lifetime,” he wrote.
He acknowledged that his apology could not reverse what had happened but said he hoped the victim and his family would receive the support, healing and justice they deserved.
