Crystal Lake youth charged with battery, hate crime

A Crystal Lake youth has been charged with aggravated battery and hate crime stemming from a fight on Monday at a middle school.

Crystal Lake police responded at 12:20 p.m. Monday to a report of a fight between two students at Hannah Beardsley Middle School.

Upon initial investigation it was determined that the fight was isolated to two students as reported, one of whom had tackled and repeatedly struck the other, seemingly without provocation. No weapons were involved.

The student attacked was transported by Crystal Lake Fire Rescue ambulance to the hospital for evaluation and treatment. The victim suffered fractured clavicles, police said.

The aggressor was arrested, charged with battery and subsequently released to their parents' custody.

Further investigation conducted Tuesday in conjunction with Crystal Lake School District 47, the McHenry County state's attorney and McHenry County Juvenile Court Services determined that the offender made verbal reference to the victim's national origin just before the attack.

These additional findings resulted in the authorization of enhanced charges to aggravated battery and hate crime.

The suspect surrendered himself to Crystal Lake police and was transferred to the Kane County Juvenile Detention Facility pending a court hearing at a later date in juvenile court.