Baltimore County Police have charged five juveniles following a violent assault on a 12-year-old boy in Essex. As reported by CBS News Baltimore, the incident, which was caught on video and shared across social media platforms, occurred at the Kings Mill Apartment complex last Friday. The footage depicts the victim, Kayson Longo, being attacked by a group of minors – punched, kicked, and subjected to additional humiliation.
According to information released by the police and shared by FOX Baltimore, they were quickly able to identify all eight suspected assailants. Still, only five could be officially charged due to legal constraints around the ages of the minors involved. The father of the victim, Tony Longo, called for accountability, saying, "Whether you are a juvenile or you are an adult, there has to be consequences." He continued to detail the helplessness and distress felt in witnessing such a brutal act against his son – describing the emotional toll it took on the family.
The attack has also brought attention to Maryland's juvenile justice laws, which were amended last November to allow for harsher consequences for certain crimes committed by younger individuals. These changes, as outlined by CBS News Baltimore, include the ability to charge children as young as 10 years old with a range of offenses and increasing the probation periods for misdemeanors and felonies committed by juveniles.
Investigative efforts by the Baltimore County Police were detailed by WMAR 2 News, who confirmed that the police were looking into the incident after the video became viral. The victim, who managed to get up and walk away post-assault, suffered minor injuries, according to the police statement.
