Family Of Alleged Victim In Lynching-Style Attack Speaks Out

The mother of an 8-year-old boy from Claremont, New Hampshire, alleges that a group of teens at a park taunted her biracial son with racist epithets. According to her account, the teens then used a rope from a tire swing to make a noose, which they tied around her son's neck.

She says her son was then placed on top of a table and pushed from the back, left to hang, while his sister watched. The boy was able to get free and taken to a hospital for treatment.

No adults witnessed what happened. In the immediate aftermath of the incident, Claremont Police Chief Mark Chase told NH-1 News that his department is investigating.

Lyrik Merlin, uncle of alleged victim.

Editor's Note: An earlier version of this post said the father of the alleged victim was a guest. The audio version here just includes the uncle as a guest.