Charges have been upgraded against a teenage boy who allegedly punched a man at a Maryland fair last month, killing him.
The 15-year-old, whose name was not released, was charged on Monday with manslaughter in the death of John Weed. He previously was charged with assault and reckless endangerment.
Weed died Sept. 21 after the 15-year-old sucker punched him, without provocation, at the Great Frederick Fair the previous day, prosecutors say. The teen and his 16-year-old brother had just asked Weed for a dollar and he refused, according to authorities. Weed was 59.
Prosecutors revealed new details on Monday about the attack. They said it was the younger boy who asked Weed for cash. He refused. The teens walked away but the 16-year-old turned back and punched him. Then his younger brother punched him as well. It's believed to be the younger brother's blow that was deadly, prosecutors said.
Both teens were charged as juveniles. A judge will decide as soon as November whether they will be charged as adults. The judge ruled Monday that both brothers will remain in custody, calling them a danger to the community.
The 15-year-old initially was charged with first-degree assault, second-degree assault and reckless endangerment. His brother was charged with second-degree assault.
Weed was a devoted uncle who took care of his family, his sister said last month. Before the attack, Weed was "the happiest I've ever seen him," she said.
Weed's sister called for the teens to be punished.
"We just wanted to spend time together as a family at the fair, but due to this horrible act of unprovoked violence my brother is now dead. There is no excuse for what these individuals have done," she said.
Stay with News4 for more details on this developing story.
