Authorities have arrested multiple teenagers after a homeless man was brutally attacked and the assault streamed live on social media.
On May 26, a group of nine teenagers viciously beat Tilman Shannon near a 7-Eleven gas station in South Oklahoma City. The incident, recorded on surveillance video, showed the teenagers chasing Shannon and assaulting him near a dumpster. According to police, the teenagers used racial slurs during the attack, including the N-word.
One of the teenagers, identified as 19-year-old Veronica Benavente, live-streamed the assault on Instagram. In the video, Benavente and her friends can be heard boasting about the attack, referring to themselves as kids while using racial expletives.
Sgt. Dillon Quirk from the Oklahoma City Police Department described the severity of Shannon’s injuries. “He had some pretty severe injuries and pretty significant trauma,” Quirk said. Shannon’s injuries were so severe that his intestinal tract was exposed after the teenagers pulled out his colostomy bag.
After the incident Shannon was taken to OU Medical Center, where doctors expect him to recover. Benavente and 18 year old Eric Villagomez have been taken into custody. Are facing charges, for serious crimes, including aggravated assault and battery. Additionally law enforcement has detained three minors linked to the assault. Is actively seeking individuals involved in the incident.
A local resident named Mike Martin shared his worries about gang presence in the neighborhood. “While its not an occurrence there seems to be a gang presence, in this area ” Martin commented. He also mentioned witnessing some children engaging in behaviors associated with gangs.
