A mother is speaking out after her 15-year-old son, who has autism and epilepsy, was brutally attacked and robbed by a group of teenagers in a scheme that began with a seemingly friendly message on Snapchat.
The incident occurred on October 5 near a train station in Stawell, a regional Victorian town approximately 237 kilometers northwest of Melbourne. The victim, from Ararat, had accepted an invitation from two girls on Snapchat who expressed a desire to be friends. They arranged to meet at a bus stop near the station at 5:45 p.m.
Instead of meeting friends, the boy was confronted by three teenagers. Graphic footage captured the attack, showing the three youths taunting the victim before physically assaulting him. He was punched, shoved to the ground, and kicked in the head and stomach. The assault continued even as one of the girls present seemed to express concern, saying, “Not the head.”
During the attack, the perpetrators demanded the victim's shoes. He complied, removing his runners before being told to leave. The victim, disoriented and in disbelief, asked one of his attackers, “Who are you? I don’t know you,” which was met with another kick to the face. The entire ordeal lasted just over a minute.
While the attack was underway, the boy's mother believed he was out with friends. She learned the truth when her son called her from a paramedic's phone. "I wrap my kids up in cotton wool, I don't really like them going anywhere," the mother told news.com.au. "But I thought because he was going to catch up with friends and make friends, he'd be okay."
The victim sustained soft tissue damage and potential head injuries. His mother expressed concern about possible internal bleeding, stating, "We are getting another scan because he may have bleeding on the brain … but we have to wait for the swelling to go down and for the bruises to come out a bit." She added, "I'm just lucky to have him alive … he's having nightmares."
His family is struggling to comprehend the motive behind the attack on their son, described as "loving and caring." The boy has reported being too scared to leave the house. "It makes me feel sick, it makes me feel unsafe … no kid should go through what my son went through," his mother said. "I just want to know why they did it."
On Tuesday afternoon, police charged three boys—one 14-year-old and two 15-year-olds—involved in the assault. Detectives from the Northern Grampians Crime Investigation Unit executed search warrants and arrested the youths. They face charges including affray, robbery, recklessly causing injury, and theft. The three are scheduled to appear before a children's court at a later date. Authorities stated that a fourth boy, who was not present during the warrant execution, will be interviewed.
Superintendent Dan Davidson acknowledged the community's concern, assuring that local police and detectives have been working to identify and hold those responsible accountable. "There is never any excuse for violence in our community, and we will not accept it in any form," Davidson stated. While treating the incident as isolated, additional patrols will be deployed in Stawell to enhance community safety and perceptions of safety. Detectives continue to investigate and expect further arrests.