3 California boys charged with beating unhoused man using tripod, tent poles

Two teenage boys and a 12-year-old have been arrested in Southern California after police say they beat an unhoused man with tent poles and a tripod.

The Long Beach Police Department responded to the city's downtown area after receiving reports of an assault around 6:30 p.m. Saturday, the department said Monday in an email to USA TODAY. When officers arrived, they were met by a man who had non-life-threatening injuries to his upper body, according to police.

Long Beach Fire treated the injured man, but he declined to be taken to a hospital.

The alleged attackers were boys ages 15, 14, and 12, police said. The group is accused of approaching the man, getting into an argument with him and then attacking him with tent poles and a tripod, according to the department.

Group of boys also threw objects at the man, police say

In addition to the alleged assault, police said the boys also threw objects at the man, who is believed to be experiencing homelessness.

Before the police arrived, the boys had fled the scene, the department said. They were apprehended in the area a short time later, according to police.

The group of boys have been charged with assault with a deadly weapon, assault and conspiracy to commit a crime, police said.