Edwards, 19, of Springfield, and 8 juveniles were charged in connection with the alleged civil rights violation with injury.
Shay EdwardsSPRINGFIELD – A prosecutor told District Court Judge William J. Boyle Monday there are questions about whether Shay Andre Edwards participated in an assault which resulted in charges of unarmed robbery and civil rights violation with injury.
Edwards, 19, of 11 George St., and eight juveniles were charged in connection to an attack on a 30-year-old man June 28.
Edwards, in court Monday with his mother for the third scheduled arraignment date, had his arraignment continued again, this time to July 25.
Assistant District Attorney Marie Angers told Boyle because of questions about whether Edwards was accurately identified as an assault participant, the state is waiting for a report from Springfield police.
Edwards lawyer, Kally Walsh, has declined comment on the case.
The man was assaulted as he walked past a Walnut Street park shortly after 3 a.m. He was thrown to the ground, kicked in the head and abdomen, and punched in the face, police said.
Some of his attackers yelled, “That’s what we do to faggots,” according to a police report.
Four of the juveniles are male and four are female.
The victim’s MP3 player was taken during the attack.
More than two dozen people gathered at Barrows Park at noon July 5 to deplore the violence that sent the victim to Baystate Medical Center, where he received treatment.
City Councilor Amaad I. Rivera, who describes himself as the city’s first openly gay city councilor and helped to organize the rally, said the incident is indicative of bullying and other issues that needs to be addressed at the grassroots level, by families and schools.
“What does it say about our community that young people committed this crime?” he said.