Police have identified and charged a man they believe sucker-punched a 12-year-old street performer in a viral video.
Authorities in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, charged 27-year-old Cedric Charles Moore Jr. with second-degree felony assault and first-degree child endangerment. He allegedly crept up behind a 12-year-old street performer and knocked him to the ground, sending him to the hospital with a concussion, according to WPSD Local 6.
The police, who are still searching for Moore, released a statement explaining the charges and why they opted not to file hate crime charges against the black suspect for attacking a white victim.
“The public has understandably expressed a desire to see Moore charged with a hate crime for this heinous crime but in accordance with state statutes, this charge would only apply if the assault was categorized to a lesser degree, which would not be in the best interest of seeking true justice for the victim,” a news release from the police department said.
“The statute to file a hate crime is listed under RSMo 557.035,” Cape Girardeau County State Prosecutor Mark Welker, added. “This statute allows the State to enhance only specific crimes if the State believes that the crime was motivated by race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, or disability of the victim. The possible crime that would fit this matter that is capable of being enhanced by the Hate Crime Statute is Assault in the 3rd degree. This is a lower degree of assault then what has been filed. The Endangering and Assault 2nd are not offenses that are eligible to be enhanced by this statute.”
Police have identified the man in this video assaulting a 12-year-old. His name is Cedric Charles Moore Jr. of Cape Girardeau and he is charged with second-degree felony assault and first-degree child endangerment. They explain why a hate crime won’t be filed. pic.twitter.com/0kOOkKyh9a
— Shamarria Morrison WPSD Local 6 (@SMorrisonTV) July 6, 2020
Police released a photo of Moore from a previous jail stint and are asking the community for tips on his whereabouts.
The victim’s mother, Stephanie Hagler, told TMZ it will be a relief when Moore is apprehended.
“I appreciate the police department for taking the case so seriously, and I know my son appreciates it too,” she said. “I don’t think I will feel any relief until he is arrested. As of now, it’s just words on paper. There hasn’t been any real consequence.”
