Group of Teens Make Fun of Man Instead of Calling for Help as He Drowns in Pond

Authorities wanted to charge the kids, but may end up using the event to spur new laws.

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com

Warning: The above video contains graphic content. 

On July 9, a man struggled to stay afloat in a pond located in the city of Cocoa, Florida. A group of five teenage boys between the ages of 14 and 16 who were in the vicinity watched on as the man, 31-year-old Jamel Dunn of Cocoa, died. Rather than call for help, the boys laughed, joked, and recorded the event on their cell phones. 

You can watch the footage above, but be warned it's graphic. The teens failed to contact authorities even after Dunn had passed. Dunn's body was recovered on July 12. 

Cocoa police spokeswoman Yvonne Martinez remarked, "They had phones, but didn’t even call for help."  Martinez continued, "Anyone who could just watch a man die like that is beyond heartless."

The teens have been identified and were interviewed by police, who initially sought to charge the juveniles with the misdemeanor of failing to report a death. Florida does not have a law that requires a citizen to help a person who is in distress. Martinez also stated, "Our detectives were trying to get potentially if a negligence law could apply. The state attorney advises it doesn't meet standard for a criminal charge."

Cocoa police chief Mike Cantaloupe said in a statement that he hopes this case will help add new laws that would "apply to this scenario."

Simone Scott, a woman who has identified herself as Dunn's sister, posted the footage of her brother's drowning to Facebook.  Police have also reported that Dunn had a "verbal altercation" with his mother and "possibly his fiancé" prior the drowning. 

Latest in Life