The 16-year-old black male seen in a viral video attacking an elderly white woman who was trying to quiet a loud outdoor pool party was given home detention by a judge at a hearing Tuesday morning with exceptions for school, church and basketball practice. The attack took place Saturday evening at the Players Place townhouse complex in North Lauderdale, Florida. The teen turned himself in Monday night, accompanied by his mother and lawyer, after police identified him as a suspect via a tip received by Crime Stoppers. He was reportedly charged with battery on a person 65 years of age or older. His next court appearance is June 5.
Screen image from video showing woman being attacked at pool party.
The party was promoted by Block Boyz and was attended solely by young black people, according to videos of the attack.
The viral video shows the woman, with two dogs on leashes, waving her arms as she beseeches the party goers to quiet down. The woman is surrounded as a female voice is heard repeatedly screaming, “Throw her in!” A male in a red shirt is then seen picking the victim up and slamming her on the concrete patio. He then picks her up and carries her to the edge of the pool and throws her in as he falls in the pool with her. The two dogs slipped the leashes during the attack and did not end up in the pool.
James went to intervene at the party accompanied by a female neighbor who was not seen in the videos and apparently was not assaulted.
The media has identified the teen as Leon Balfour, confirming the Internet sleuthing of 4chan and others. Balfour reportedly told police when he turned himself in, “I messed up and I have to own up to it.”
The victim, 68-year-old Nancy James, was turned down medical care at the scene but eventually hospitalized due to her injuries and released on Monday. She suffered bruises in several places on her body. James reportedly was recovering from stent work the previous week and has a history of hip surgery and strokes.
WPLG-TV reported on the teen’s release:
A 16-year-old boy accused of throwing a 68-year-old woman into a swimming pool during a party appeared before a judge Tuesday morning.
Judge Carlos Rebollo ordered Leon Balfour to home detention until his next court appearance. Balfour must stay at home unless going to school, church or basketball practice.
“He’s a good kid,” Balfour’s attorney, Paul Molle, said. “It’s an unfortunate situation, but I think with time it’ll pan out and we’ll get to see the real kid for who he is.”
Balfour can be seen on video lifting Nancy James and falling to the ground after he slips on the wet surface. The teen then lifts James once again and throws her into the pool.
“It just shouldn’t happen,” James said. “The kid has not evolved yet into what you’re supposed to be as a human being.”
Molle said his client wants to apologize to James.
“He seems to be very remorseful for the situation,” Molle said. “I think he looks forward to the opportunity to address the individual face-to-face and personally apologize for the incident that’s taken place.”
…”I didn’t even really get to walk in and this kid comes from behind, picks me up, drops me and drags me into the pool,” James said.
James said she is on the association board of the complex and that she’d received several complaints about the noise level.
“Kids are kids, no matter what. They’re going to have parties,” James said. “Just lower the music.”
Excerpt. Complete WPLG report at this link.
WPLG video report from Monday night shows interviews with party attendees and a concerned neighbor.
Two different versions of the attack have been posted online. The most well known version shows most of the incident and attack. The second is much shorter.
You Tube version:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blkxg-NjQWE
Twitter version:
CAUGHT ON CAMERA: A woman in South Florida was body slammed and thrown into a pool after reportedly complaining about a loud party. pic.twitter.com/ZxK557eEjZ
— ABC World News Now (@abcWNN) May 8, 2017
Second version:
https://twitter.com/Profitigation/status/861300782355759104
The pool party was promoted by BlockBoyz, who denied involvement in the attack.
https://twitter.com/_17thCourt/status/860995084380254209
The BlockBoyz deny involvement in the attack on the woman, “PSA IT WASNT A BLOCKBOY WHO THREW THE LADY”.
We are deeply saddened on how #BLOCKBOYZPOOLPARTY ended. We had nothing to do with the incident that occurred. #BlockBoyzAreGoodMen2K17 pic.twitter.com/8CBOvQMLE8
— SHIFT (@8GR8NESS8) May 7, 2017
BlockBoyz retweeted a video statement on the attack.
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