WOOSTER, Ohio — Two teens involved in the beating of two homeless men sleeping outside of Trinity United Church of Christ in Wooster on July 24 have been charged, according to the Wayne County Juvenile Court.
A 13-year-old and an 16-year-old have both been charged in the case and each face one count of delinquency by reason of felonious assault and one count of misdemeanor assault.
18-year-old Richard Luper has also been charged for his role in the incident, court records stated.
Luper faces two counts of felonious assault and one count of misdemeanor assault, according to authorities.
A 33-year-old man and a 39-year-old man were sleeping outside of the church when they were awoken by three teens who approached and started throwing rocks at them. The teens then took turns striking the men with baseball bats, police said.
Both of the men were hurt and one required medical attention, according to a church official.
The attack was caught on a security camera.
The men told Pastor Kevan Franklin of Trinity United Church of Christ that they believe they were targeted because they are homeless.
"He told me that at one point one of the guys took out a $10 bill and threw it on the ground and said 'You want this $10 bill, we’ll give you $10 to fight us,' and he just kind of looked at him like what are you taking about? And he took that as a slam at him being homeless," Franklin said.
The 13-year-old and 16-year-old are scheduled to appear in court Thursday.
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