Facebook Live is an interesting tool. In some ways, it can be used to expose injustice while in other ways it can be used to showcase positive and inspiring moments. There is the other side of live streaming though, the ugly side, that gives a platform to tragic and terrifying things.
Recently, a tragedy occurred when a young mother died while live streaming and people just watched. Now, more news about a horrific Facebook live stream has people questioning whether the platform is too extreme, giving people an incentive to do horrible things and broadcast them for the world to see.
The horrific live stream footage in question included a group of people, essentially beating, torturing and humiliating a bound victim who sits in the corner of the room with his mouth taped shut. The acts committed against this man were horrible and compounded by the fact that his torture and humiliation were aired to the general public.
There was a knife held up against him as his captors commanded him to insult and swear at President-elect Donald Trump. At one point during the live stream, the group of horrible people decide to force him to drink a cup of water taken from a toilet right before they go on to cut his scalp.
The individuals involved total 4 people, and they have already been arrested for the crime which took place in Chicago. The police department has stated that the victim has special needs and was kept hostage for almost two days. He was taken to the hospital after the ordeal and has since gone home to his parents.
The alleged perpetrators included two men and two women, all of which were 18 years old. They were apprehended by the police on January 4th, 2017, after the police were made aware of the graphic, 30-minute long video posted to social media. Police believe that the victim went to school with one of the attackers and was around the same age.
The video was posted to Facebook Live by Brittany Herring, and has been taken down since then. In the video, the young men can be heard saying that they hope it goes viral.
Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said: “It’s sickening. You know it makes you wonder what would make individuals treat somebody like that.” The victim had been reported missing, and was found wandering the streets disoriented and “in crisis” on January 3rd, 2017.
According to Fox 32, the culprits are facing criminal charges that include “hate crimes and kidnapping”.
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