A day after charging a 14-year-old boy in the sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl that was carried on Facebook Live, police said on Sunday that they were seeking the arrest of a 15-year-old boy in connection with the crime.
Police are also trying to identify others who took part in the assault, officials said, but the investigation has been slowed by the trauma experienced by the girl.
« She’s just having such a difficult time even communicating what occurred to her, » Cmdr. Brendan Deenihan said at a news conference at Chicago police headquarters. « We obviously have a video of the incident, so we have verifiable objective evidence of what occurred to this young lady, but she’s just having a very difficult time.
« On top of it, there’s constant social media … bullying (of the girl), making fun of what occurred. This is just a very traumatic incident. »
The girl had stayed over with family the evening of March 18 and gone to church with them the next day, then was dropped off near home before disappearing.
Deenihan said the girl was « lured » to a residence by one of the attackers, who did not allow her to leave. As many as six males took part in the assault, police have said. She was found two days later walking down the street near her home.
The 14-year-old boy was charged with aggravated criminal sexual assault, manufacture of child pornography and dissemination of child pornography, all of which are felonies, police said.
With her identity obscured, the mother of 15-year-old female sexual assault victim speaks out on March 22, 2017. The assault was captured on Facebook Live video. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)
With her identity obscured, the mother of 15-year-old female sexual assault victim speaks out on March 22, 2017. The assault was captured on Facebook Live video. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)
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The boy faces a hearing in juvenile court Monday, court officials said.
jkeilman@tribpub.com
Twitter @JohnKeilman
Earlier versions of this story gave incorrect dates for when the girl disappeared and was located.