Heroic eight-year-old boy beaten to death with a rock trying to protect his sister

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-trying-protect-sister-12-teenage-rapist.html



A community in Richmond, Virginia, is reeling after an eight-year-old boy was beaten to death while trying to protect his 12-year-old sister from a rapist.

The boy, identified by his pastor only as 'little Martin,' was pronounced dead at the scene in the 200 block of Brandon Road Thursday night.

He was later identified as Martin Cobb.

His sibling, whose name is not been released because of her age and the nature of the crime, was taken to a hospital.

Police have since apprehended the suspect, who turned out to be a black teenager. Initially, the victim described her assailant to as a white man with scraggly facial hair, the local station WWBT reported.

Investigators later determined that the suspect had threatened to kill the 12-year-old girl if she provided police with accurate information about him.

The teenager is currently being evaluated at Tuckers Psychiatric Clinic in Richmond as police are preparing to charge him with murder and assault.

At around 6.30pm Thursday, the brother and sister were playing by the train tracks near their home when a stranger approached the 12-year-old girl, sexually assaulted her and slashed her face, the kids' aunt and stepfather told WRIC.


Community shocked: The siblings were playing by the train tracks along Brandon Road in Richmond Thursday when a stranger came out of nowhere and attacked the 12-year-old girl


Too young: Martin's family say the little boy tried to intervene in an effort to protect his big sister, at which point her assailant threw a rock at his head, killing him on the spot\\


When her 9-year-old brother tried to intervene, the teenage attacker allegedly turned on him, throwing a rock at his head. The child died instantly.

‘To have the courage to defend his sister as if he was a grown man,’ neighbor Sudan Aunu told Richmond Times Dispatch. ‘His sister is alive today because of him.’

Police responded to the scene a short time later after someone saw the 12-year-old girl running naked and covered in blood out of the nearby woods.

The child was taken to a hospital to be treated for bruises and laceration. Her family said she was very distraught by what happened. .

As officers gathered evidence at the scene in the gathering darkness, shaken neighbors gathered in a circle for an impromptu prayer.


False information: The rape victim initially told police her attacker was a grown white man with a scraggly beard, but it was later revealed that he was a black teen


Heartbroken: The children's mother was seen at the crime scene in tears



Case closed: Police quickly located the teenage rape and murder suspect, who is expected to be charged with both crimes after completing a psychiatric evaluation

Both siblings attended Redd Elementary School, where grief counselors were brought in to help students and staff deal with the traumatic event.

Pastor Dr. Theodore Hughey, of the Abundant Life church, said little Martin and his sister were inseparable and were a constant presence at the house of worship.

‘You saw one. The other was there. They were never apart,’ Hughey said.


Beloved: Those who knew Martin said he was a happy little boy not even two feet tall who always followed his sister around


Act of healing: Distraught neighbors gathered in a circle for a prayer after Martin's murder


Neighbor Merkeita Boyd described the 9-year-old as a happy child not even two feet tall who was beloved by everyone who knew him.

Another neighbor Harry Hunter said of Martin: ‘He was so small, I used to carry him in my book bag.’

 

horrible. just horrible... may the lil man rest in peace and prayers for the girl and her familiy.

 

Fucking sick. God bless that little boy. I'm sick.

And as for this...

"False information: The rape victim initially told police her attacker was a grown white man with a scraggly beard, but it was later revealed that he was a black teen"

Lmao....fucking gold. Flaming and TDK were about to jerk each other off to this. I can only imagine if this got back to CNN and Uncle Al and Jesse...

 

This story makes my heart hurt

 

Utterly heartbreaking. RIP baby boy

 

very sad for the family

 

What a brave little boy. Absolutely heart-wrenching.

 

You need help slow poke.
So sad to hear about this kid

 

Was about to post this sad story in the Hero thread. So utterly heart-breaking!
His sister will be forever traumatized.,, I pray his little angel-wings carries her through life, continuing to protect his big sister.

 

I know negative media and headlines are what attracts readers, but after reading the article, makes you wonder why they would say the child was "beaten to death with a rock"

Am I the only one who feels the words they chose to be a bit insensitive? I assumed he was literally beaten, as in hit several times.

"When her 9-year-old brother tried to intervene, the teenage attacker allegedly turned on him, throwing a rock at his head. The child died instantly".

 

I see your point, and the natural alternate choice would be 'killed by' but then readers may assume he died from a falling rock/he fell on a rock?, and not in fact, murdered by one, which he was. He literally was beaten(hit) in the head by a (thrown) rock, and died.

But you are right that it conjures up an image of someone repeatedly hitting that poor child's head. I am glad it didn't happen that way, for at least he didn't suffer long.

 

Definitely glad this little heroic angel didn't have to suffer. Terrible story. What is happening with the youth of today? What is happening with the people of the world... Jesus is coming!