2 Teens Accused of Putting Noose on Black Teen Charged With Hate Crime - Chicago Sun-Times
Two white teens who allegedly put a noose around the neck of a black youth and held him captive at a Southwest Side home were charged with a hate crime Thursday in juvenile court.
The 17-year-old boy — a former student of Brother Rice High School who was expelled after the incident was publicized last month — and a Morgan Park High School student, 16, both appeared before Judge Colleen Sheehan in their first court appearance in connection with the alleged Dec. 23 attack.
Both boys teamed up with former Brother Rice student Matthew Herrmann, 18, to target Joshua Merritt, 17, because they were allegedly unhappy that Merritt was friends with the 16-year-old’s female cousin, officials said.
Merritt — also a Brother Rice student — was allegedly held against his will at the 16-year-old’s home in the 1600 block of West 100th, threatened with a butterfly knife and targeted with racial epithets while a noose was placed around his neck.