Police said the beating was tied to a social media trend targeting vulnerable people.
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — Four teenagers were charged with attempted murder after police said five boys attacked a 45-year-old homeless man on a Binghamton sidewalk Monday night, leaving him unconscious and critically injured near Carroll and Henry streets.
The case has shaken local officials because of the ages of the suspects, the condition of the victim and what police described as the motive. Investigators said the victim had no permanent address and did not appear to know the boys. The attack remains under investigation, and police said charges are still expected against a fifth suspect, a 13-year-old who was released to a guardian.
Binghamton police said officers were called at about 11 p.m. Monday, April 27, to the area of Carroll and Henry streets after a report of a man unconscious on the sidewalk. Officers found a man who appeared to be seriously hurt and possibly assaulted. Fire department EMS crews and Broome Ambulance responded, and the man was taken to a local hospital. Investigators later determined the attack happened about 9:30 p.m. while the victim was walking alone on Carroll Street. Police said five teenagers approached him, punched and kicked him, then ran from the area on foot. The victim was able to walk a short distance before he lost consciousness from his injuries. Police Capt. Matthew Hodnik said the conduct was “a disgusting act” and “a heinous act.”
The victim, described by police as a 45-year-old Binghamton man with no permanent address, suffered serious injuries to his head and body and remained in critical condition after the assault was announced. His name was not released. Police also did not release the names of the teenagers because they are juveniles. The four charged suspects are two 15-year-old boys and two 14-year-old boys, all from Binghamton. Each was charged with second-degree attempted murder. The 13-year-old suspect was not immediately charged, but police said criminal charges against him are anticipated as the investigation continues. Investigators said the group targeted the man and that the attack appeared to be connected to a social media trend in which assaults on unhoused people or people with drug addiction are recorded and posted online. Police said the boys and the victim were not believed to have known one another.
Detectives worked through the day Tuesday, April 28, conducting interviews and reviewing video from the downtown area. Police said the patrol division first developed information showing the man had been assaulted, then the Detective Bureau continued the case through the afternoon and evening. By about 5 p.m. Tuesday, police had identified, found and taken all five suspects into custody. They were brought to Binghamton police headquarters for investigation and booking. The four boys who were charged were processed and taken to a secure juvenile detention facility in Syracuse. Police said the fifth boy, who is 13, was released to a guardian while investigators continued gathering evidence. The department said the case remains open, including a review of the motive, the role each suspect played and whether recordings of the attack exist or were shared.
Hodnik said police were especially troubled by the alleged link to social media. “There is a recent push in social media trends that recording attacks of unhoused or narcotic or drug addicted individuals on the street,” Hodnik said. He said juveniles seeing that kind of conduct as acceptable or as something to be proud of was “absolutely disgusting.” The case also drew a sharp response from Binghamton Mayor Jared Kraham, who said the violence left the city searching for answers. “What happened earlier this week is abhorrent and inexplicable,” Kraham said. “Our community is left grappling with how these young people could carry out such a heinous act of violence.” Kraham said he was grateful to police for taking the case seriously from the start and said he had confidence prosecutors would seek accountability.
The attack occurred in a mixed downtown and North Side area where residential streets, shelters, social service agencies and small businesses sit close to one another. The victim’s lack of permanent housing became a central fact in the investigation because police said the motive appeared tied to targeting people who are unhoused or vulnerable. Local resident Joseph Wagner, 20, who lives near Henry Street, said the attack raised concerns about both youth behavior and the safety of people living on the street. “Where is their parents to teach them and guide them?” Wagner said. He also said the city needs stronger protection for people without housing and more support for young people. His comments reflected the concern that spread after police described the assault as both random and targeted, meaning investigators believe the victim was selected because of his circumstances rather than because of a prior dispute.
The next steps are expected to move through the juvenile justice system and the ongoing police investigation. Authorities have not announced whether the four charged boys will face additional counts or whether the 13-year-old will be formally charged in the same case. Police also have not announced a new medical update for the victim. Kraham said violence tied to social media trends would not be tolerated and said juveniles who break the law would face consequences. The Broome County District Attorney’s Office is expected to review the evidence as the case moves forward. Because the suspects are minors, many court records and hearings may remain closed or limited under state juvenile procedures. Police said detectives are still seeking information as they continue to examine the timeline, any video evidence and the actions of each suspect before and after the assault.
The case stood Friday with four boys in secure juvenile detention, one younger suspect released to a guardian and the victim last reported in critical condition. Police said the investigation remains active, with further charging decisions still pending.
Author note: Last updated May 1, 2026.