Black Voices: New Trayvon Martin Evidence Features Incriminating Photos, Texts From Teen
A Florida father refereed a backyard brawl between his son and another youth, then pummeled the 16-year-old who fought his child, according to police.
Gary Leroy Johnson, 35, was arrested on charges of aggravated battery, child abuse and filing a false report after footage of the vicious beating appeared online.
Johnson allegedly organized a fight between his son and another youth behind his Palm Bay home on Aug. 19, according to CFNews13.
After his son quit fighting, Johnson -- described as 6-feet 5-inches tall and 220 pounds by WESH -- exchanged words with the other teen.
"You want to get knocked the (expletive) out by me, boy?" he asks the victim, according to The New York Daily News.
"I would like to see that," the teen replies, The Daily News notes.
GRAPHIC VIDEO:
Johnson can then be seen punching the teen, knocking him over. He hits the boy repeatedly while the victim is on the ground, then kicks teen in the head, on a longer version of the video posted by WESH.
A woman, identified as the teen's mother by CFNews13, can be heard shouting in an attempt to stop the fight.
The assault appears to end when Johnson's son pulls his father away from the victim.
Johnson told police he agreed to oversee his son's fight to make sure it was fair, ABC News reports.
Investigators believe Johnson lied to officers by claiming the teen was the aggressor -- despite video showing him striking the teen while he was on the ground.
Johnson was released on $35,000 bond. He has reportedly been suspended from his job as an emergency room technician.
Not excusing Johnson's actions here - he should have walked away instead of arguing with the kid, and he should be prosecuted and locked away for his actions. However, he didn't simply assault and innocent kid for no reason... the kid got in his face and challenged him, something I'm sure he'll think twice about before doing again.
He won't learn tho, next time he'll have a gun or a knife to even the match.
Violence escalates Violence.