Juveniles investigated for assault, encouraging children to fight and sharing video of the crime

By Jon Johnson

jonjohnsonnews@gmail.com

SAFFORD – A juvenile female and male have been referred to Graham County Juvenile Probation for charges of assault and child abuse regarding an incident involving a 4-year-old boy and 2-year-old girl. 

On July 25, authorities were informed of a video that was posted on social media depicting a 2-year-old girl hitting a 4-year-old boy with a stick as older juveniles egg them on to fight. In the video, when the 4-year-old boy swung back at the 2-year-old girl, the older juvenile female slapped him in his head. Later in the video after the two younger children continue to fight, the older juvenile female can be seen slapping the 4-year-old boy again. 

An officer contacted the younger children’s mother, who advised that she had allowed her sister (the older female juvenile) to babysit the children while she was at work. She advised she was aware of the video and would no longer allow her sister to babysit. 

The officer spoke with the older juvenile girl, who advised that the younger children were fighting and so they decided to egg them on more. She said she didn’t know why she had slapped the 4-year-old boy. An older juvenile male who was also present advised he had slapped the 4-year-old boy as well but wasn’t sure why he did so. 

The officer informed all of the parties that he would send his report to the Graham County Juvenile Probation for charges of assault for hitting the children and child abuse for making them fight each other.