14-year-old indicted for allegedly trying to drown teen in Massachusetts pond

CAPE COD, Mass. (TCD) -- A 14-year-old is facing charges after he allegedly tried to drown another teen in what prosecutors are calling a "racially motivated" crime.

According to the Cape and Islands District Attorney’s Office, a grand jury returned an indictment this week on charges of attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon in connection with an incident that occurred July 19 in Chatham on Cape Cod. Two white teens and a Black teen met at Goose Pond, and the teen being charged allegedly "picked up a stone, threatened the victim with it" and made a "racially charged statement."

The victim put on a life jacket and told the two other teens he didn’t know how to swim. The three teens got into the water and the suspect allegedly pulled off the victim’s life jacket and "submerged him underwater four to five times, causing the victim breathing distress."

The other teen allegedly started laughing at the victim and called him "George Floyd."

The District Attorney’s Office said the defendant swam under the victim and tried to pull his feet to get him under the water. The victim called for help and was rescued by a bystander.

The suspect is being held without bail and is due back in court Sept. 13.

MORE:

• Juvenile indicted on racially motivated attempted murder charges from incident in Chatham in July - Cape and Islands District Attorney's Office