ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — Three homeless people were hurt — two hospitalized in critical condition — after they were beaten by four teenagers — two of them cousins — on Monday night, according to the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office.
The beating happened about 11:15 p.m. along railroad tracks behind the Cobblestone Village Shopping Center on state Road 312. Deputies said the transients were approached while they were sleeping underneath a railroad bridge and beaten with a board, a shopping cart and other objects.
Andrew Christianson, 43, and Andrew Robert, 53, were hospitalized at Flagler Hospital with what were described as major injuries.
Michael McMeans, 31, had only minor injuries and was able to get to a Hooter’s restaurant at the shopping center and get help. Deputies said he refused medical treatment.
Deputies they arrested Jontae Anderson and Reginald Anderson, both 17, several blocks away. They were charged aggravated battery and attempted robbery and booked into a state Department of Juvenile Justice facility.
Tuesday afternoon, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office announced two more arrests. These 16- and 15-year-olds were also charged with attempted robbery and aggravated battery. By policy, Channel 4 will not release their names unless they are charged as adults.
The victims told investigators they were punched and kicked and struck with a large stick. One said that three young people threw him down a concrete embankment.
According to Sgt. Chuck Mulligan, a teenage boy and girl were also at the scene during the beating. They were questioned and released.
“(They) stood by and watched, but in no way participated in the acts,” Mulligan said. “In some ways, (they) may have tried to verbally stop it.”
Deputies said a transient camp is located near the site of the beatings.
“(The victims) don’t have nothing to their name, anyhow. “said long-time St. Augustine resident Stephen Reed. “I don’t understand why people would go about doing things like that.”
The Andersons are both students at St. Augustine High School.