A shocking video of a 12-year-old boy being savagely beaten in a gang attack has led to a group of Baltimore children facing charges.
Kayson Longo, 12, was attacked at the Kings Mill Apartments complex in Essex, Baltimore, last Friday.
His father named him publicly in an effort to bring his attackers to justice.
The assailants, all of whom are under 13, have not been named. They are being charged as children.
The brutal beatdown was captured on video and posted online, showing Longo being punched, kicked, thrown to the ground and having his pants pulled down.
The gang was seen repeatedly stamping on him, punching him in the back of the head as he screams out.
One of the youths helped him to his feet while another pulled down his pants in front of the group.
Others were heard laughing as he was held on the ground. As more kicks were launched, the boy cried out.
Baltimore County Police File Charges Against Five of Eight Minors Involved in Violent Assault on 12-Year-Old Kayson Longo
The Baltimore County Police Department has filed charges against five of the eight minors allegedly involved in the brutal assault of Kayson Longo , a… pic.twitter.com/IK6Sc1R4Ku
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Unfiltered | Culture & Beats (@Camguarda) March 14, 2025
Tony Longo, the boys father, said his son did not initially tell him about the attack. It began when a classmate confronted him, he said.
Longo claims the classmate accused his son of calling his girlfriend a derogatory name, which led to the fight.
Speaking with Fox Baltimore, he said: ‘Next thing you know, they’re 15 kids surrounding Kayson on top of them brutally beating him.’
He has also called for accountability, saying: ‘Whether you are a juvenile or you are an adult, there has to be consequences.
‘These type of behaviors are unacceptable.
‘To beat my son and then feel as if it’s ok to take his clothes from him, beat him with his clothes, continue to beat him.’
Fighting back tears, he added: ‘The bruises.
‘As a father I felt helpless, and I’m trying to protect my family.
‘The pain and the thought of my son being left helpless, being beaten. It’s very disturbing to me. I don’t wanna see that happen to any human being, especially a child.’
Baltimore police said that because of their ages and state laws, only five could be charged.
They also said that based on the information they had, the incident was not believed to be a hate crime.
Last year Maryland juvenile justice laws made it possible for those ages between 10 and 12 to be charged with illegal gun possession, auto theft, animal cruelty and sexual offense in the third degree.
Prior the change in legislation, children in the state had to be 13 in order for them to be charged with offenses.
The state’s attorney’s office is now allowed to review cases against those under the supervision of the Department of Juvenile Services’ (DJS).
Due to the changes, the time limits on juvenile probation extended and increased a misdemeanor offense from six months to a year long probation period.
Animals…trained in Public School.
They also said that based on the information they had, the incident was not believed to be a hate crime.
I didn’t see any white kids except for the lad that was being beaten. If this was all white kids beating on a black kid you can bet your life it would be a hate crime and ALL the boys would be charged as adults.