A 15-year-old Hempstead County boy was arrested in the beating of his mother and three siblings on Christmas Eve, including a boy in a wheelchair, a law-enforcement official said.
The 15-year-old also went to a shop near the residence and grabbed a hammer, according to a news release from Sheriff James Singleton.
Deputies received a report of a fight in progress at 11:15 a.m. Tuesday at a home in rural Hempstead County.
When deputies arrived, the 15-year-old was taking his shirt off and had his arms opened wide while shouting at the deputies, according to the news release.
Deputies took the boy into custody.
A girl, 12, told deputies the 15-year-old punched her and slammed her on the floor twice and then kicked her in the head while she was on the ground, according to the news release.
Deputies checked the other family members for injuries.
An 11-year-old boy in a wheelchair was inside the residence. He told deputies the 15-year-old punched and shoved him. The boy had several bruises and red marks on his body, according to the news release.
The mother had redness on her left arm where the 15-year-old grabbed her and pulled her to the ground twice, according to the news release.
A girl, 14, said she was punched on the left side of her face near the eye.
Deputies questioned the mother about what started the commotion.
She said her son was getting “smart mouthed” to her, and she told him if he didn’t stop, she would take two of his gifts and put them away. He kept on so she put the presents away, according to the news release.
The 15-year-old then grabbed her and knocked her to the ground and then was on top of her, hitting her once on the side of the head. He was swinging his fists at her, and she was trying to fight him off. He hit her several times, Singleton said.
The 11-year-old crawled over to them and was trying to get the 15-year-old off his mother, according to the news release.
As the mother got up, the 15-year-old jumped on her again. One of the sisters tried to pick up her mother when the 15-year-old grabbed her, slamming her to the ground. He then kicked her in the head.
The 14-year-old sister also was hit during the fight.
The 15-year-old then went outside to the shop and came back holding a hammer, threatening to kill them, according to the news release.
“For some reason, the 15-year-old sat down holding the hammer, then threw it into a corner and walked outside as deputies arrived,” Singleton said.
The 1 5 -year-old was charged with second-degree battery and transported to the Miller County youth lockup pending a hearing in juvenile court.
No one required hospital treatment.
Arkansas, Pages 12 on 12/28/2013