Teen murder suspect attacks U.S. Marshal in courtroom chaos

Chaos erupted in a D.C. courtroom when a teen girl on trial for beating a disabled man to death allegedly attacked a U.S. marshal.

The 13-year-old, accused of killing 64-year-old Reggie Brown last fall, was in court for a pretrial hearing on July 19 when things went awry. Reports say the girl struck the officer without provocation, resulting in her being taken away on a stretcher and facing additional charges.

Just before the incident, the DA was questioning the girl and her teenage accomplices about taking selfies after filming their brutal attack on Brown. Brown, a frail man with disabilities, was severely beaten in Northwest DC back in October.

Police say a group of young girls chased Brown down an alley. The man tried climbing a fence to escape, but they pulled him down and assaulted him. They allegedly kicked his head and whipped him with his own belt.

Police found Brown barely clinging to life on Georgia Avenue, severely battered. He did not survive. After investigating, police arrested three girls, ages 12 to 13.

At a hearing in March, the police played security footage of the entire incident. The video reportedly shows a man in a blue coat pushing Brown down before the girls attacked. One of the 12-year-olds apparently recorded the whole thing on her phone.

One child claimed they only took part in the attack after the unidentified man brandished a weapon and threatened to shoot them if they didn't. However, police have not confirmed whether Brown was armed.

Family members described Brown as a compassionate man who lived in the area for 64 years. "My uncle really didn't deserve this," Brown's niece told News4 in Washington. "He was known in this community for years, so for this to happen where he lived for 64 [years] is insane. They have to be held accountable."

The two 13-year-old suspects were formally charged with second-degree murder during their initial hearing on March 29, although they have not been charged as adults. The 12-year-old girl faces separate charges after being shot in an unrelated incident at her home in late March.

Authorities have not identified the suspects due to their age. The two older girls were remanded to a secure youth facility, while the youngest was scheduled to appear before a judge following her recovery from the separate shooting incident.

As the case unfolds, the community grapples with the shocking nature of the crime. A close family friend told FOX 5 in Washington, "He was just a quiet, nice, polite person. He didn't bother anybody. That's the type of person he was."

This courtroom incident adds further complexity to an already troubling situation, highlighting the challenges of dealing with violent juveniles in the legal system.