A 15-year-old boy in Massachusetts who admitted to a racially motivated attack last year—where he tried to drown a Black teenager while calling him racial slurs—will not be going to jail. Instead, he will serve three years of probation and complete community service.
John P. Sheeran, who pleaded guilty in December to attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon, appeared in Barnstable Juvenile Court this week. Judge Sylvia Gomes sentenced him to probation, requiring him to complete 723 hours of community service and an online educational course. If he commits another crime during this period, he will be sent to the Department of Youth Services until he turns 21.
As part of his sentence, Sheeran must also write an apology letter and stay away from the victim.
The Attack at Goose Pond
The attack happened on July 19, 2023, at Goose Pond in Chatham, Massachusetts, about 85 miles from Boston. Sheeran, then 14, and another white teen met up with a 15-year-old Black boy at the pond. According to prosecutors, Sheeran immediately picked up a stone, threatened the victim, and called him a racial slur.
Before going into the water, the victim put on a life jacket, telling Sheeran and the other teen that he didn’t know how to swim. Despite this, prosecutors said Sheeran repeatedly pulled on the victim’s life jacket, dunking him underwater four to five times and making it hard for him to breathe. The other boy reportedly laughed and called the victim “George Floyd,” referencing how Floyd couldn’t breathe during his deadly encounter with police in 2020.
The attack didn’t stop there. Prosecutors said Sheeran even swam underneath the victim, trying to grab his feet to pull him down again. The victim started yelling for help, and finally, another bystander—a young boy—jumped in and pulled him to safety.
This boy later told police that Sheeran and his friend were smirking while he helped the victim out of the water.
The victim also gave a statement to authorities, saying that as soon as he arrived, Sheeran began calling him racial slurs, throwing rocks at him, and threatening to beat him up. He described being dragged underwater, struggling to breathe, while Sheeran taunted him with the name “George Floyd.”
A Pattern of Racist Attacks
Later that same evening, at around 8:15 p.m., Sheeran also punched an Asian child in the face and called him racial slurs, prosecutors said.
The Court’s Decision
Because Sheeran was charged as a “youthful offender,” the judge had the option to sentence him as an adult if she believed it was necessary. Massachusetts law allows juveniles aged 14 to 17 to be tried as adults in serious cases, like those involving violent felonies or firearms offenses. If Sheeran had been sentenced as an adult, he could have faced much harsher consequences.
During the sentencing, Judge Gomes said she hoped this case wouldn’t define Sheeran’s future.
“This is a fair resolution for all parties,” she told him. “I cannot undo what happened, but hopefully this resolution will bring the community closure and comfort.”
Sheeran’s lawyer, Kevin Reddington, however, downplayed the attack, claiming the teens were just “horseplaying” and that the charges were blown out of proportion. He even said the victim wasn’t really a victim and called the case a “charade.”
What’s Next for Sheeran?
While Sheeran avoided jail time, he must follow strict rules under his probation. If he gets arrested again before turning 18, he will be sent to the Department of Youth Services until he turns 21.
A second teenager involved in the attack was also arrested. However, because he is being charged as a juvenile, his identity has not been made public.
The case has sparked conversations about how the justice system treats racial hate crimes involving juveniles. Many people are questioning whether Sheeran’s sentence was too lenient, considering the severity of the attack.
