Another Teen Charged in Homeless Beatings

Police arrested a third teen, 18-year-old William Ammons, in connection with three attacks on homeless men, which left two injured and one dead.  Two young men, aged 17 and 18, have already been charged with murder and aggravated battery.  Ammons has been charged with aggravated battery causing significant bodily harm and/or disability.  He has been accused of participating in one of the three beatings committed early Thursday morning. 

Brian Hooks, 18, and Thomas Daugherty, 17, have been charged with the murder of Norris Gaynor and the aggravated battery of Jacques Pierre.  Both young men are possible suspects in the battery of a third man named Raymond Perez. 

The beating of Pierre, which took place on the Fort Lauderdale campus of Florida Atlantic University, was caught on video surveillance. 

According to officials, as many as four young men were involved in these attacks on homeless men.  Advocates for the homeless report that men aged 16 to 25 are most likely to commit acts of violence against homeless people.  Statistics show that at least 100 such attacks occurred in 2004 alone, 25 of which were fatal.