Jan 16, 2006 9:26 pm US/Eastern
Suspects In Homeless Beatings Go To Court
by Ted Scouten
FORT LAUDERDALE (CBS4 News) ―
-
-
Scenes from the beating caught on tape
CBS4 News
-
-
SUSPECT: Brian Hooks, 18
CBS4 News
-
-
SUSPECT: Thomas Daugherty, 17
CBS4 News
-
-
Police officer holding bat recovered from 1 of the suspects' homes
CBS4 News Exclusive
-
-
VICTIM: Norris Gaynor died from his injuries
CBS4 News
The 2 teenagers arrested for last week's string of beatings of homeless men got their first appearances in court. 17-year-old Thomas S. Daugherty was denied bond and his lawyer asked for a psychological evaluation. 18-year-old Brian A. Hooks' bond hearing was postponed because his lawyer was not present.
Daugherty and Hooks are charged with murder and aggravated battery. Fort Lauderdale police say the 2 -- who are both from Plantation -- were caught on camera severely beating 58-year-old Jacques Pierre outside the Florida Atlantic University (FAU) campus on Thursday.
Police also say their investigation found Daugherty and Hooks murdered 45-year-old Norris Gaynor -- who died from his severe head injuries. His beating was the first attack -- at Esplanade Park.
Furthermore, police say Daugherty and Hooks are suspects in the third attack. 49-year-old Raymond Perez was beaten at the Church By the Sea. The 2 survivors have broken bones and lacerations.
Police credit the 100+ tips from the public for identifying Daugherty and Hooks on surveillance video. Another clue: by the next day, their names were posted on a local Web site dedicated to street racing.
Daugherty and Hooks turned themselves in on Sunday morning and were processed at Fort Lauderdale Police Department. Then, Daugherty was taken to the Broward County Juvenile Assessment Center and Hooks was taken to the Broward County main jail.
Capt. Michael Gregory, in charge of criminal investigations with Fort Lauderdale police, said police were investigating whether the two teens may have been involved in other beatings and if they had accomplices.
"We do know there have been other assaults of homeless in Fort Lauderdale," Gregory said.
It was possible that the attacks could be considered hate crimes under federal law, Gregory said, but that aspect was not included in the current charges.
Police are continuing to look through other cases of attacks on homeless people to see if the suspects are connected. They're asking people with any information to call Broward County CrimeStoppers at (954) 493-TIPS.
An advocate for the homeless said he has encountered cases of alleged violence against homeless by young people.
"Along railroad tracks, you talk to homeless people -- kids throw rocks at them," said Scott Russell, a pastor at Coral Baptist Church.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
