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Four Charged with Hate Crime, Kidnapping, Assault After Facebook Live Video

Ashley Rae Goldenberg | 20 hours ago

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(Image source: Twitter)

The four people who broadcasted themselves kidnapping and torturing a man with special needs have been charged with a host of felonies, including committing a hate crime.

The Facebook Live video that led to the arrests shows the four black perpetrators assaulting the bound and gagged white man while yelling “f**k white people” and “f**k Donald Trump.”

WGNTV reports that as a result of their participation in the video, the perpetrators face charges for aggravated kidnapping, aggravated unlawful restraint, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, and a hate crime:

Jordan Hill, 18, of Carpentersville, is charged with aggravated kidnapping, hate crime, aggravated unlawful restraint, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, robbery, possession of a stolen motor vehicle and residential burglary.

Tesfaye Cooper, 18, of Chicago, is charged with aggravated kidnapping, hate crime, aggravated unlawful restraint, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and residential burglary.

Brittany Covington, 18, of Chicago, is charged with aggravated kidnapping, hate crime, aggravated unlawful restraint, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and residential burglary.

Tanishia Covington, 24, of Chicago, is charged with aggravated kidnapping, hate crime, aggravated unlawful restrain and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

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Although a hate crime is one of the charges the perpetrators face, police previously said they did not believe the attack was related to politics or race, even though both race and politics were mentioned in the video of the attack.

It is unclear whether the hate crime is related to the comments made in the video about the victim’s race, or whether they relate to his mental disability. According to the Chicago government, a hate crime can be perpetrated based on race and/or mental disability.

Even though hate crime charges have already been filed, White House Press Secretary John Earnest commented on the matter on Thursday and said it is “too early to tell” whether the incident could be considered a hate crime.

The victim was reportedly taken to the hospital and is in stable condition. When police found him, he was disoriented and traumatized.

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