White teen charged with attempted murder for allegedly trying to drown Black child in Cape Cod pond

A 14-year-old white boy was indicted Thursday on charges of attempted murder and assault in Massachusetts after an investigators said he tried to drown a Black boy in a pond on Cape Cod.

The incident occurred on July 19 at Goose Pond in Chatham when the 14-year-old, the alleged victim and another child met at the pond, according to a press release from the Cape and Islands District Attorney Robert Galibois.

The Chatham police say the 14-year-old picked up a stone and threatened the Black boy, referring to him with a racial slur.

Before entering the water, the Black boy put on a life vest and told the others he couldn’t swim, according to authorities. All three boys then entered the pond.

Once in the water, the 14-year-old pulled on the life jacket submerging the alleged victim four to five times and causing him to experience breathing distress, the DA's office said. The third child reportedly laughed at him during the attempted drowning, calling him “George Floyd.”

The 14-year-old then swam under the Black boy and tried to grab his feet in an attempt to pull him under the water, according to investigators.

The incident ended when the alleged victim called out for help and a person on the beach intervened, helping the victim get to the shore, the DA's office said.

The 14-year-old was indicted on charges of attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon. After a hearing Thursday in Barnstable Juvenile Court, the he was ordered held without bail and is due back in court on Sept. 13.

The press release said the 14-year-old is “known to the court.” None of the three juveniles were named by authorities.

Galibois' office said they had no further comment.

Associated Press material was used in this report, with additional reporting from WBUR's Katie Cole.