News Summary
Cuyahoga County prosecutors have charged a 9-year-old boy and a 10-year-old girl with serious crimes, including attempted murder and rape, following a shocking assault on a five-year-old girl. The incident, which took place in a wooded area, left the victim severely injured, prompting outrage in the Cleveland community. Witnesses reported the involvement of three juveniles who lured the girl to a secluded location. This disturbing case raises crucial questions about child safety and juvenile accountability, as local residents demand justice and increased security measures.
Cleveland – Cuyahoga County prosecutors have charged a 9-year-old boy and a 10-year-old girl with serious offenses following a brutal assault on a five-year-old girl. The charges, which include attempted murder, rape, felonious assault, kidnapping, and strangulation, stem from an incident that took place on September 13 in a wooded area near East 148th Street and St. Clair Avenue.
Antavia Kennibrew, the mother of the victim, reported that her daughter suffered severe injuries during the attack. Upon seeing her daughter after the incident, Kennibrew described a chilling scene. The girl was found covered in dirt and blood, with extensive bruising across her body. Portions of her hair had been scalped, rendering her “not recognizable.” Additionally, the victim’s eyes and mouth were filled with blood, and her nails were caked with dirt and debris.
Prior to the attack, Kennibrew had dropped her daughter off at a family member’s home. The young girl left that house on her own before becoming a victim of the assault. Witnesses confirmed that three juveniles were involved in luring the child to a secluded area where the attack occurred. Reports indicate that the group assaulted the girl by hitting her in the head with a rock, strangling her, sexually assaulting her, and urinating on her.
This horrifying incident has sparked outrage and concern among local residents, many of whom are demanding justice and heightened security in the community. The combination of the defendants’ ages and the severity of the crime is considered unprecedented, according to Cuyahoga County prosecutors. Many residents voiced their frustration at not being informed about the attack sooner, noting that it only garnered public attention after Kennibrew shared her daughter’s story on social media.
The case is currently under investigation by the Cleveland Division of Police Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Unit. Due to the sensitive nature of the case, prosecutors have chosen not to release further details regarding the incident or the defendants. The community remains on edge, grappling with the implications of such a brutal crime committed by minors.
The assault has raised serious questions about child safety and the potential for such violence among young people. Advocacy for justice has gained traction, with community leaders and residents pushing for a re-evaluation of how juvenile crimes are handled and the resources available to support the rehabilitation of young offenders.
Such cases prompt discussions about the psychological and societal factors contributing to violence among children and the necessary interventions required to prevent future occurrences. The disturbing nature of this event has highlighted the complexities surrounding juvenile accountability and the associated legal ramifications.
While there is an ongoing investigation into this matter, the community continues to rally for justice for the five-year-old victim and her family. The serious nature of the charges against the two young offenders marks a significant moment in Cuyahoga County’s legal landscape, invoking a broader conversation about violence, accountability, and the protection of vulnerable children in society.
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Additional Resources
- Cleveland 19
- Wikipedia: Child Abuse
- Cleveland.com
- Google Search: Juvenile Crime Statistics
- News 5 Cleveland
- Google Scholar: Juvenile Justice Reform
- WWNYTV
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Juvenile Justice
- Fox 8 News
- Google News: Child Assault in Cleveland
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The CLEVELAND STAFF WRITER represents the seasoned team at HERECleveland.com, your premier source for actionable local news and information in Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, and beyond, delivering "news you can use" with in-depth coverage of product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news impacting the region—backed by years of expert reporting and robust community input, including local press releases and business updates, while providing top reporting on high-profile events like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions, Cleveland International Film Festival, and holiday parades, alongside key organizations such as the Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland Orchestra, and Great Lakes Science Center, plus leading businesses in manufacturing and healthcare like Sherwin-Williams and University Hospitals, and as part of the broader HERE network including HEREDayton.com, offering comprehensive, credible insights into Ohio's vibrant landscape. HERE Cleveland HERE Dayton
