Nine teens are arrested

after a 16-year-old boy reported that he was attacked near a middle school because he’s gay, Orange County deputies say.

Nine teenagers were arrested after a student was targeted and attacked near an Orange County middle school because of his sexual orientation, deputies announced Friday.

The 16-year-old boy, whom the Orlando Sentinel is not naming, told deputies he was “jumped” by a group of people April 14 while on his way home from Westridge Middle School, according to the Orange County Sheriff ’s Office. Boy allegedly ‘jumped’ because of sexual orientation

The attack was captured on Hospital for Children for camera and was posted on social treatment after the incident. media. The suspects, all in seventh

The eighth-grade student and eighth grade, stole some of told deputies he was walking the victim’s belongings during home when “some kids from his the attack, deputies said. school jumped him” near They made off with some Kingsgate Drive, just a block headphones, a hat and a cell from the school, an incident report phone charger, worth about $85 said. total, a police report states.

They started punching him, The suspects, whom the Sentinel leaving him with bruises on the is not naming because of back of his head and arms, deputies their ages, are all charged with said. felony robbery.

He was taken to Arnold Palmer “Some of the juveniles admitted to targeting the victim due to sexual orientation,” Sheriff ’s Office spokeswoman Jane Watrel said. “Others did not give a specific motive.”

She said deputies are working with the State Attorney’s Office to determine whether the charges will be upgraded, or if they will include hate crime charges.

No other details were released.