The victim, who is Black, told investigators that two of his friends, who are white, tried to drown him in Chatham in July 2023. However the defendant’s attorney maintains that the incident was not racially motivated.
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A Massachusetts teenager who pleaded guilty in an attempted murder case tied to what prosecutors described as a racially motivated attempt to drown another child was sentenced to probation on Wednesday.
John Sheeran, 15, agreed to a plea deal for attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon over the July 19, 2023, incident at Goose Pond in Chatham, Massachusetts. The victim, who is Black, told investigators that two of his friends, who are white, tried to drown him at Goose Pond in July 2023. Sheeran and the other child are both white.
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Sheeran was sentenced in Barnstable Juvenile Court Wednesday to 30 months of probation and 720 hours of community service. He was also ordered to stay away from the victim, and will be required to write an apology letter and take an educational course on respect and resolving conflicts.
While his layer didn't deny the attack, they claim it had nothing to do with race.
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"There was no racial intent here whatsoever. Unfortunately for obvious reasons it took on a life of its own in that regard, but you have three young individuals and what happened, happened," said Kevin Reddington, Sheeran's attorney.

The victim reported the incident two days later at the Chatham Police Department, telling investigators that two of his friends had tried to drown him. In his statement to police, he described a series of escalating incidents, including stone-throwing and the use of racial slurs like 'boy,'" used intentionally. It culminated when Sheeran tried to pull him under the water four or five times, according to the victim. When the victim told them he couldn't breathe, he said the other child involved laughed and called him George Floyd, according to court documents.
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Another youth heard the victim calling for help and intervened, according to court documents. That witness said he heard the victim asking Sheeran not to splash or push him because he could not swim, and that they saw Sheeran pushing the victim's head under the water.
According to court documents, a second victim reported hearing the group calling the victim "George Floyd."

All of the people involved were juveniles at the time, including the witnesses. Sheeran's name was released to the public because he was tried as a youthful offender, a designation that gives Massachusetts prosecutors discretion for seeking an adult sentence for children between 14 and 17 years old who are charged with a felony and when other criteria are met, including a charge that involves the infliction or threat of serious bodily harm.
The allegations of a racially motivated attack set off quick condemnation in Chatham. At the time the news first came out, both the town's select board and the Monomoy Regional School District released statements saying their communities stand for diversity and inclusion and that they were working to prevent similar incidents from happening again.