rustoffa
07-15-2006, 08:17 PM
Teens Accused Of Attacking One Boy, Hitting Friend With Prosthetic
(CBS) BURBANK, Ill. A 15-year-old southwest suburban boy and his friends are wondering what could have made a group of teens beat him, then take his prosthetic leg and use it as a weapon on a friend who came to his rescue.
CBS 2's Mai Martinez reports police say they have descriptions of the attackers and a description of the car they were riding in.
Police have already shown a photo lineup to one of the victims and he picked out a person who looked like one of the attackers.
DJ Choate still can't believe he's once again without a leg. He lost part of his leg almost three years ago in an accident he's not able to discuss.
On Sunday, he says a group of men destroyed the leg he's relied on since the accident.
"It's messed up everything. Stopped me from walking until I get a new leg or even if I get a new leg," he said.
According to D.J., he and his friends were playing basketball on the sidewalk near 79th Street and Nagle Avenue when a dark blue or black car came speeding down the street and almost hit one of their friends.
Another friend confronted the driver, who they believe was drunk.
"I got hit by a car slightly on the left side, and I was fine. And I reached into the car to grab the guy's keys out of his car, and I hit him. And he jumped out of the car," said Kyle Keene.
According to the victims, five other young men also jumped out of the car. D.J said he knew he'd be an easy target so he told the attackers he had a prosthetic leg and he took it off.
But when they began beating a friend, D.J. rushed to help.
"I set my leg down to pull them off of him and then when I looked around, my leg was gone," he said.
"Two guys got on top of me and they were hitting me. And I was covering my head, trying to stop it," said Kyle. "And then all I remember is I seen it and I just got hit in the forehead with his leg. And I know it was his leg because it was metal."
Kyle blacked out from the attack and was rushed to the hospital, but he counts himself lucky.
"I thought I was dead. They said I could have died in the ambulance," Kyle said.
But D.J. and his family do not feel so lucky.
Choate added there was “no reason, not one reason” for the assailants to take his leg. “That’s demented right there,” he said.
Added Choate’s friend Victoria Campbell, “I really don’t know what to say about it. He didn’t do nothing wrong. He was just in there trying to help his friend out.”
"Why did you have to do that to him? Because now he can't walk," said D.J.'s mother Vickie Choate.
The prosthetic leg was severely damaged. Choate needs a new prosthetic leg and without a replacement, he cannot walk normally.
"I can't do nothing for myself anymore now. And I don't like the way that feels. I always do stuff for myself," D.J. said.
D.J. and his family are concerned they will not be able to afford another prosthetic leg. But since earlier reports aired, many have come forward to help the family with the $5,000 cost..
CBS 2's Kristyn Hartman and STNG Wire contributed to this report.
Link (http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/local_story_194092903.html)
(CBS) BURBANK, Ill. A 15-year-old southwest suburban boy and his friends are wondering what could have made a group of teens beat him, then take his prosthetic leg and use it as a weapon on a friend who came to his rescue.
CBS 2's Mai Martinez reports police say they have descriptions of the attackers and a description of the car they were riding in.
Police have already shown a photo lineup to one of the victims and he picked out a person who looked like one of the attackers.
DJ Choate still can't believe he's once again without a leg. He lost part of his leg almost three years ago in an accident he's not able to discuss.
On Sunday, he says a group of men destroyed the leg he's relied on since the accident.
"It's messed up everything. Stopped me from walking until I get a new leg or even if I get a new leg," he said.
According to D.J., he and his friends were playing basketball on the sidewalk near 79th Street and Nagle Avenue when a dark blue or black car came speeding down the street and almost hit one of their friends.
Another friend confronted the driver, who they believe was drunk.
"I got hit by a car slightly on the left side, and I was fine. And I reached into the car to grab the guy's keys out of his car, and I hit him. And he jumped out of the car," said Kyle Keene.
According to the victims, five other young men also jumped out of the car. D.J said he knew he'd be an easy target so he told the attackers he had a prosthetic leg and he took it off.
But when they began beating a friend, D.J. rushed to help.
"I set my leg down to pull them off of him and then when I looked around, my leg was gone," he said.
"Two guys got on top of me and they were hitting me. And I was covering my head, trying to stop it," said Kyle. "And then all I remember is I seen it and I just got hit in the forehead with his leg. And I know it was his leg because it was metal."
Kyle blacked out from the attack and was rushed to the hospital, but he counts himself lucky.
"I thought I was dead. They said I could have died in the ambulance," Kyle said.
But D.J. and his family do not feel so lucky.
Choate added there was “no reason, not one reason” for the assailants to take his leg. “That’s demented right there,” he said.
Added Choate’s friend Victoria Campbell, “I really don’t know what to say about it. He didn’t do nothing wrong. He was just in there trying to help his friend out.”
"Why did you have to do that to him? Because now he can't walk," said D.J.'s mother Vickie Choate.
The prosthetic leg was severely damaged. Choate needs a new prosthetic leg and without a replacement, he cannot walk normally.
"I can't do nothing for myself anymore now. And I don't like the way that feels. I always do stuff for myself," D.J. said.
D.J. and his family are concerned they will not be able to afford another prosthetic leg. But since earlier reports aired, many have come forward to help the family with the $5,000 cost..
CBS 2's Kristyn Hartman and STNG Wire contributed to this report.
Link (http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/local_story_194092903.html)