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Teens Attack 11-Year-Old Boy in Home

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HILLSBOROUGH — Three Durham teenagers have been arrested in the brutal beating and sexual attack of an 11-year-old Hillsborough boy. The attack occurred last week in the boy's home while his parents were working.

Officials have arrested Christopher James Perry, 16; Jami Natu Thompson, 18; and Linwood Day Suggs, 16. They have been charged with first-degree sexual offense and common-law robbery, both felonies, and assault on a child under 12, a misdemeanor. Each was released after posing $2500 bond.

Juvenile charges are also expected to be lodged against a 14-year-old.

Officials said the attack grew out of a phone dispute between the 11- year-old victim and the 14-year-old over a girl. Officials said Perry overheard a telephone conversation between the two, insinuated himself into the situation, and vowed to go after the 11-year-old with his gang the next day.

According to Ned Thorpe of the Orange County Sheriff's Department, the attackers repeatedly punched, kicked, harassed and jumped on the boy, forced him to perform oral sex and stuffed a bloody towel in his mouth, saying the blood was AIDS-tainted. They also ransacked the house.

The attack took place while a 13-year-old relative of the victim was present. Sheriff's officials said if the relative had called for help, they could have prevented or interrupted the attack. Instead, the 13-year-old reportedly called a friend so he could hear the victim screaming.

As the attackers left, they threatened to kill the boy and his family if anyone was told about what had occurred. The boy's beating was discovered by his father when he returned home from work, and he called authorities

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