Police say a group of teens brutally beat a 61-year-old man on West Sawyer Street in Decatur. It happened in the late afternoon in broad daylight, with more than 100 people watching on August 24th. Now, the victim Jerry Newingham is clinging to life. If his life support is removed - this could be considered a murder.
After the beating, the teens continued to Garfield Park, where cops say they brutally beat 46-year-old Kevin Wilson. He is now in intensive care with serious head injuries.
Police say they've arrested nine juveniles. If Newingham dies, some of them could be charged with murder. It would be the fourth murder in Decatur this year. More arrests could be made, and there may even be some adults involved. Police say this was random, and there was no reason for any of it.
They also say Decatur parks are safe. They call something like this at Garfield Park very unusual.
