A Florida bonfire party turned into a disturbing scene of violence when a group of young men allegedly attacked a man with disabilities, repeatedly punching and kicking him while recording the assault and mocking his desperate pleas for help.
The attack unfolded around 2 a.m. on October 23 at Tiger Bay State Forest near Daytona Beach, where the victim had accompanied a friend to a late-night gathering.
According to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, the man initially remained inside his friend’s truck for about an hour because he didn’t know anyone at the party and felt uncomfortable. He eventually decided to join the group, unaware that the evening would end with him suffering a concussion and numerous injuries.
Investigators say the victim was sitting on the tailgate of a pickup truck, minding his own business, when two young men approached and began harassing him without provocation.
The suspects, identified as Cody Stripling, 18, and Sabastian Bowers, 19, allegedly began slapping and punching the man before knocking him to the ground. Deputies say the attackers continued kicking and striking him while another person filmed the confrontation.
Throughout the assault, the confused victim repeatedly asked what he had done wrong.
“What did I do?” he pleaded, according to the arrest affidavit.
Rather than helping, the person recording allegedly pushed a phone toward the injured man’s face and ordered him to smile. When the victim tried to move the camera away, the person filming scolded him.
Deputies say Bowers also grabbed the victim by his hair and pulled his head backward, while Stripling allegedly placed him in a chokehold.
The attack finally ended when the victim’s friend returned to the gathering, intervened and took him away from the scene.
Medical professionals later diagnosed the man with a concussion, along with multiple cuts and bruises. Investigators noted that he has a visible physical disability affecting the use of his right hand. His mother also told deputies she believes he has an undiagnosed cognitive disability.
Authorities emphasized that the victim had not behaved aggressively toward his alleged attackers.
Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood expressed outrage after investigators obtained video of the incident, publicly condemning the suspects in a sharply worded social media post.
“Congratulations to our new Scumbags of the Weekend, Cody Stripling (18) and Sabastian Bowers (19),” Chitwood wrote.
“If you’re a decent person, this video will disturb you,” the sheriff added.
Both suspects were arrested Saturday, October 31, and booked into the Volusia County Jail. They face serious felony charges, including aggravated battery involving a person with disabilities and battery by strangulation.
According to court information cited in local reporting, both were being held without bond, with their next court appearances scheduled for December 8.
But investigators believe others may have participated in the attack or witnessed what happened. Deputies are particularly interested in speaking with the person who recorded the assault rather than intervening.
The sheriff’s office has released footage of the incident in hopes of identifying additional people involved.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office at 386-248-1777.
The investigation remains ongoing, and the two arrested suspects are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
