The two suspects had bond review hearings on Monday.
Frederick, Md (KM) The investigation continues into the death of a Mount Airy man at the Great Frederick Fair last Friday.
The Sheriff’s Office says John Weed, 59, was attending the Fair with his sister and niece when he was assaulted. Weed was medivaced to Shock Trauma in Baltimore where he died the next day. Deputies arrested two teenage boys. The 15-year-old is charged with 1st- and 2nd-degree assault, and reckless endangerment, and the 16-year-old is charged with 2nd-degree assault. Both are brothers.
The State’s Attorney’s Office says a bond reviewing hearing was held for the two boys on Monday. The Judge agreed to continue holding them at the Alfred Noyes Center in Rockville for 30 days. Officials say no decision had been made on whether to charge the two youths as adults.
Frederick County Sheriff Chuck Jenkins says investigators still need to do more interviews, and review video footage. But he says it looks at this time to a hate crime. “We don’t have any indication right now or any facts that would lead to believe that is racially motivated,” he says. “But the way I view this thing, the fact that what they did to this man when he was down and unconscious by continuing to taunt and spit on this man, to me that shows hatred, that they despise this guy for some reason.”
According to a news release from the Sheriff’s Office, the two teenagers are black, and Mr. Weed is white.
The Sheriff says an incident like this has never happened at the Great Frederick Fair. “You go to the Fair with the expectation of having a fun evening with your family, enjoying a nice fall evening, and it ends resulting in a death. It’s tragic, it’s senseless and it didn’t need to happen,” he says.
By Kevin McManus