Miami Police Say Hate Crime Motivated Attack On FIU Student
Five teens, three of them minors, are facing charges after what is being called a horrific hate crime.
According to police, the teens attacked and tried to drown an 18-year-old black college student from Florida International University.
The student said he was attacked very early Sunday morning after a late-night keg party on an island near Haulover Beach. He said the “N” word was used during the attack.
Police said the incident began after words were exchanged between two groups of people on the island. The groups then took separate boats back to Haulover Marina, where the attack allegedly occured.
Once on shore, the student was beaten with a baseball bat, police said. The teens then allegedly held his head under water and tried to drown him. His friends were also beaten, police said.
Police arrested 18-year-old Miguel Aranda and charged him with a hate crime and attempted murder. Jose Osorio was charged with battery and attempted murder but does not face hate crime charges. Three other suspects have also been arrested. Two of them are 17 years old, the third is only 15. All three minors face hate crime charges.
All of the injured students were treated and are expected to be OK.