8-year-old Martin Cobb was beaten to death protecting his 12-year-old sister from a rapist near their home in Virginia.

A Richmond Virginia community is devastated after learning of the events that took place in their neighborhood last week. At around 6:30 p.m.Thursday the two children were playing by the train tracks near the 200 block of Brandon Road when a stranger approached the 12-year-old girl, sexually assaulted her and cut her face. The children’s aunt told CBS affiliate WTVR that Cobb was beaten when he attempted to intervene. The attacker allegedly turned and threw a rock at his head.

Initially, the attacker was described as white male with scraggly facial hair however, officials discovered that the little girl may have been coerced into giving police a false description. Police have now arrested a black teenager suspected of the attack who was being medically evaluated on Friday. The community is heart broken and gathered for an impromptu prayer following the tragedies that took place last week. Police are continuing to investigate and have not yet released what exactly led to Cobb’s death.


“His sister is alive today because of him,” said neighbor Sudan Aunu.

(__hennystraight)