BOSTON, June 19, 2017—Three New Hampshire teens were arraigned today in the Suffolk County Juvenile Court on charges that they beat a street performer during an assault that’s also being reviewed for potential hate crimes charges, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

A 15-YEAR-OLD MALE from Londonderry, a 16-YEAR-OLD MALE from Salem, and a 17-YEAR-OLD MALE from Manchester were arraigned on charges of delinquency, to wit: assault and battery and disorderly conduct. The 16-year-old was also charged with possession of alcohol by a minor. The Saturday afternoon incident is also being investigated by the Boston Police Civil Rights Unit and Conley’s hate crimes point prosecutor for potential civil rights violations.

All three teens were bailed for arraignment tomorrow but appeared in court today. Assistant District Attorney Michael V. Glennon, deputy chief of the DA’s Juvenile Unit, recommended $1500 cash bail for each, and Judge Michaela Stewart released them to the custody of their parents with orders to stay away from the victim, witnesses, and Faneuil Hall.

According to witness statements, a group of about five young men surrounded the performer, who was wearing his bear costume while playing music near the intersection of Congress and State streets at about 4:20 on Saturday afternoon. The assailants removed his mask and struck him in the face and body while using a racial slur. The victim sustained a facial laceration and swelling to the right eye; he was treated at the scene by Boston EMS but declined transport to a hospital.

Multiple witnesses called 911 for assistance. Two witnesses at the scene reported that the juveniles used racial slurs against them, as well. Some followed the assailants as they fled, and others informed responding Boston Police officers on their path of flight.

“That witness assistance had a direct effect on the officers’ ability to locate, identify, and apprehend the suspects,” Conley said.

Boston Police officers observed the three charged juveniles climbing scaffolding on Devonshire Street in an attempt to elude them. Officers ordered them down, at which point one allegedly said, “I am a juvenile, we did nothing wrong.”

The juveniles are represented by attorneys Peter Hahn, Migdalia Nalls, and Brian Wiseman. They will return to court on July 12.

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All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.