A video captured the horrific moment a Los Angeles teenager was beaten and stabbed at a bonfire party by a mob who filmed the attack and posted it online.
The 16-year-old spent days in the intensive care unit with serious, life-threatening injuries.
The brutal assault took place on February 10 at Dockweiler State Beach, where video shows the teenager repeatedly beaten, stomped and stabbed by at least five people before the mob stole his sneakers.
The teenager was reportedly trying to help a girl when he was challenged to a fight which he rejected before being attacked.
A 16-year-old was beaten and stabbed at a bonfire party in Los Angeles after trying to help a young girl.
Video footage captured an angry mob of up to five teenagers punching, hitting, stomping and stabbing him before stealing his sneakers.
The teenager (pictured), who has not been identified, may have been the victim of a gang attack.
The suspects shouted racist and homophobic slurs while beating the teenager. Video of the violent attack has since circulated on the Internet.
The victim’s mother, Frankie Hayes, believes he may have been gang-related.
“They called him all kinds of names and kicked him in the head and in the face and stabbed him,” Frankie told KTLA.
Frankie said her son suffered a concussion, a tube through his chest and a collapsed lung, among other injuries. Doctors didn’t know if he would survive.
“The doctor, as soon as we walked in the door, said, ‘We didn’t know if your son was going to live,'” said the victim’s mother, Frankie. KTLA.
“I started crying and I just went over there and held my son’s head and told him mommy’s not going anywhere.”
Victim spent days in intensive care in critical condition clinging to his life
Teenager was left with a concussion, a tube through his chest, a collapsed lung among other injuries
‘He had a punctured lung, a concussion. They had to put a tube in his chest to suck out all the blood,” she added.
The teen stayed out of trouble and was “loved by everyone,” his mother said.
“My son was helping a friend,” he told KTLA. “He helped her up off the ground and then some guy just asked him to stop and then my son just wanted to help her friend.” The guy asked her if she wanted to fight and my son didn’t want to fight him.
“I’m still speechless knowing that someone did this to him and that they may still be out there looking for him,” he said.
The Los Angeles Police Department has reportedly identified some of the attackers. The investigation into the attack is ongoing.
The teen’s mother, Frankie (pictured), who asked that her last name be withheld, said doctors told her “we didn’t know if your son was going to live.”
The brutal assault took place on February 10 at Dockweiler State Beach.
In addition to mounting medical bills, the victim’s mother now intends to move out for safety reasons. She has created a GoFundMe for support.
‘Hello, my name is Frankie. I am turning to the community to ask for support for my son. He was brutally beaten and stabbed several times, resulting in a punctured lung as well as a series of other injuries. at Dockweiler Beach on February 10,” he wrote.
“Any and all donations, regardless of the amount, are greatly appreciated; we aim to act as soon as possible for fear of retaliation as we have fully cooperated with the authorities.”
“Thank you to each and every one who donated or simply took the time to pay attention to this tragic incident.”