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7 teens arrested after viral video captures attack on Illinois girl with autism

CHILLICOTHE, Ill. — Police in Illinois arrested seven suspects, including six minors, Tuesday in connection with an attack on a Chillicothe girl who has autism.

According to the Peoria Journal Star, Michael Lloyd, 18, and six other teens, whose names were not released because they are juveniles, are facing aggravated battery and mob action charges in the Monday incident, which was captured on cellphone video.

UPDATE: In regards to the assault video, We have arrested 7 individuals (6 juveniles and 1 adult) on chargers of...

Posted by Chillicothe Police Department on Tuesday, June 16, 2020

Terry Batson told the newspaper that his daughter, 17-year-old Makenna, was walking to a friend's house with some candy when the teens began insulting and attacking her. A 30-second video of the incident later went viral on social media.

"Just seeing the video, every time I look at it, I get very angry," Batson told WMBD-TV.

Thousands of social media users are now showing their support for the girl, who wasn't seriously hurt in the attack, in a Facebook group called "Kindness for Makenna." Meanwhile, a GoFundMe campaign for Makenna, who also was attacked last summer, had raised more than $600 by early Wednesday, WMBD reported.

Lloyd was booked in the Peoria County Jail and may have a court appearance Wednesday, the Journal Star reported. Some of the younger suspects were placed in juvenile detention, while the others were sent home with their parents, police told the newspaper.

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