Lenoir County sheriff says those in viral video attacking Black teen have been identified

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LENOIR COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) - Deputies in Lenoir County say they’re investigating the brutal assault of a teenager that has gone viral on social media.

Sheriff Jackie Rogers tells WITN that they have now identified everyone in the video and the attackers are facing charges.

The 16-year-old teen who was attacked is Black, according to a family member who spoke to WITN. His attackers were white, according to the video.

The attack happened on May 24th outside of Grifton in Lenoir County.

There are three different clips.

In the first one, the group is around a bonfire and what appears to be at least one liquor bottle is seen. A girl with long dark hair sucker-punched the victim and another follows the victim and takes him down to the ground.

A second video shows the teen in a choke-hold on the ground for a length of time as others also hit him, and a camera phone is put in front of his face. He’s eventually released and is holding his face before trying to stand.

A third video shows the victim in a chokehold by a different teen, who eventually lets him go as a girl repeatedly tells him to release the victim. The victim appears stunned and unresponsive on the ground after being released.

The family member says the teen has several broken teeth and ruptured blood vessels in the attack. They say the video was posted in a group chat that the victim was a member of.

The victim has left the area with everything that is going on, said the family member, and he’s continuing to receive medical care.