Teens admit to beating up classmate because of his sexuality, deputies say

ORLANDO, Fla. -- (WKMG) -- Multiple teenagers arrested in connection with a fight after school said they attacked a classmate and stole his belongings because of his sexual orientation, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Office.

Nine boys were arrested on robbery charges in connection with the April 13 incident in which a Westridge Middle School eighth-grade student was jumped by a group of boys while he was walking home from school, deputies said.

All nine suspects are students at Westridge Middle School and are in either seventh or eighth grade. Deputies said at least two of the boys said the victim's sexuality was a motivating factor in the crime, but others didn't give a specific reason for the attack.

Video of the beating, which was posted to social media, shows a group of boys pouncing on the victim and kicking and punching him repeatedly as he struggles to defend himself.

His mother told News 6 the attack left her son with bloody bruises to his head, arm and ear. She said her 16-year-old son is currently questioning his sexuality, but she wasn't sure if that was the motive for the attack or if it was a robbery because the boy's headphones, baseball hat and phone charger were stolen.