Jonesboro, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – March 29, 2024 – Two 14-year-old boys were injured Wednesday night, March 27, at the Target store according to a Jonesboro police report.
According to a post on the JPD Facebook Page, “On March 27, 2024, JPD Officers responded to a disturbance at 3000 E. Highland Drive.
“Upon arrival, officers located two male juvenile victims and gathered information on the events that took place. Both victims reported that they were attacked and received injuries during an altercation within the store. The suspects had already left the scene. Officers gathered video evidence and, with the assistance of school resource officers, made identification of the 14- and 16-year-old suspects by the following morning. The two suspects are facing charges of Battery- 3rd Degree/Purpose of Causing Injury.
The post goes on to say, “At this time, there is no evidence to substantiate this is racially motivated or gang-related. This investigation is ongoing, and charges will be filed through the Craighead County Juvenile Department.”
One of the boys suffered a bloodied lip and had his braces damaged. The other suffered abrasions to his abdomen, according to the mother of one of the victims. She posted a narrative of what happened alongside photos and videos of the boys on her Facebook page. She claimed in her post that the assault was “completely unprovoked.”
She also said the attack was racially motivated.
“Thankfully they held their own and fought back,” the mother wrote. “Thankfully they were together. Thankfully they didn’t get knocked down to the ground. Thankfully the attackers didn’t have a knife. Thankfully the attackers didn’t have a hammer. Thankfully the attackers didn’t have a gun. Thankfully there was only 2 attackers. Thankfully it happened on camera. Thankfully our boys got to come home to their parents.”