In a court hearing, disturbing details emerged about how five children allegedly beat a disabled man to death, causing the 13-year-old girl accused of delivering the fatal kick to break down in tears.
Police Detective Harry Singleton testified at a pre-trial hearing in Washington DC on Thursday, describing the events leading to Reggie Brown’s death in October.
Singleton recounted an interview with the 13-year-old, who he said dealt the fatal blow by kicking Brown in the head.
Singleton stated that the 13-year-old played a central role in the assault, which saw her and four other children beat the 64-year-old until he stopped breathing, according to WUSA 9.
As Singleton spoke, the teenager began to cry. She, along with three other friends aged 12 to 15, faces trial on charges of second-degree murder and assault with a dangerous weapon. The fifth girl, aged 15, has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of assault with a dangerous weapon, which prosecutors claim was her foot.
Previous court hearings revealed disturbing cellphone footage showing the girls kicking Brown, stomping his head into the pavement, pulling down his pants, and beating him with his own belt. The footage also showed them celebrating afterward.
At a separate hearing on Tuesday, August 20, prosecutors presented video from the DC police homicide unit, showing Singleton transporting one of the teenagers and her mother to his office.
In the video, the teen claimed that she and her friends saw an unidentified man attacking Brown, who was allegedly dragged by the collar and beaten. She said the man, who supposedly threatened the girls with a weapon if they did not continue fighting Brown, told them to keep attacking.
The teenager also claimed she “froze” when Brown started bleeding and stopped kicking him, stating she “soft kicked” him in the leg and saw him take his last breath.
However, Singleton testified that there was no evidence of the unidentified man having a weapon, despite the girl’s claims.
The five teenagers were charged with Brown’s murder in March and are awaiting trial in September. If convicted, four of them could face confinement in a Department of Youth Rehabilitation facility until they turn 21, after which they would be released by law. The sentencing for the 15-year-old who pleaded guilty to the lesser charge is still unclear.
Before his death, Brown was battling lupus and cancer. His family has expressed a desire for justice, with his sister, Nasia Israel, calling for the maximum possible punishment for the attackers.
She said, “These aren’t girls. These are animals and they should be locked up for the maximum amount of time.”
Her brother, Samuel Brown, added, “He didn’t deserve this—no one deserved this,” while another sister emphasized their hope to prevent similar tragedies for other families.
