A disturbing assault in Boston's Roxbury neighborhood left a pregnant woman and her unborn child with severe injuries, officials said. According to the Suffolk District Attorney's Office, Dana Young, a 33-year-old man from Randolph, is facing charges after allegedly attacking a woman on April 29, causing potential brain damage to her unborn child and making it unlikely for her to carry the baby to full term.
Young has been charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury, assault and battery in violation of a restraining order, and assault and battery on a pregnant victim. NBC Boston reports that the man is currently being held, and bail from an earlier case was revoked by the judge.
Walking after getting off an MBTA bus at around 6:30 p.m., the 23-year-old victim, who was 17 weeks pregnant at the assault time, was approached from behind while walking along Winthrop Street. It was there, Young allegedly slapped her across the head, causing her to fall, and then he proceeded to kick her several times in the stomach. After the assault, despite initially refusing medical aid, the victim went to Tufts Medical Center the next day when concern for her unborn child grew. Doctors there told her the grim news of her child's potential fate, as WCVB details.
The Suffolk District Attorney, Kevin Hayden, emphasized the severity of the case, stating, "The allegations here are shocking in their brutality and violence." In reference to the attack not being a random act of violence, Hayden suggested that "additional charges are possible as the investigation continues." The prosecutorial team has expressed a commitment to support the woman as the case moves ahead, as reported by NBC Boston.
Dana Young is scheduled to return to court on June 3 for a pre-trial hearing, with a judge setting $2,000 bail on the new charges and ordering no contact with the victim should he be released.
