Latest news with #WillieCowart
Daily Mirror
08-08-2025
- Daily Mirror
Man 'tries to put a chemical-laced handkerchief' over face of teenage boy
Willie Cowart, from Boston, is accused of a "bizarre" chemical assault after he approached a teenage boy on the streets of Roxbury on July 28, just after midday A 69-year-old man has been arrested after he allegedly tried to put a "chemical-laced handkerchief" over the face of a 13-year-old boy at a street corner. Willie Cowart, from Boston, is accused of the "bizarre" chemical assault after he approached the boy on the streets of Roxbury on July 28, just after midday. The teenager was waiting to be picked up "when an older man wearing a Hawaiian shirt approached, poured an unknown liquid on a red handkerchief, and tried to put the handkerchief over his mouth." The boy, who did not want to be identified, has been left "shaken" by the chemical attack, according to his parents. It comes as a British man was charged after 'trying to drown his daughter-in-law on dream family holiday.' "It's basically like facing your biggest fear. Like the way the guy was looking too," the teen told WBZ-TV. "My heart was beating fast and stuff. I was really scared." The teenager has been ordered not to go anywhere without his parents' supervision following the scary attack. "I can't go outside. My mum told me until I'm 20, to go outside by myself when school is finished, I can't stay after school," he said. Police searched the suspect's car and found chemical cleaning agents inside. "This is a strange, and extremely disturbing, set of facts," Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden said in a statement Monday. "It doesn't take much imagination to appreciate how frightening it was for this young man to be standing on a street corner and suddenly be accosted in such a bizarre manner. I'm grateful that he suffered no apparent injuries." Cowart was arrested and charged with one count of assault with a dangerous weapon, the Suffolk County District Attorney's office said. He pleaded not guilty to the charge in court last Wednesday. The bizzare attack comes after a five-year-old girl covered in blood ran for help after witnessing her dad shoot her mum, grandma, and aunt dead - before turning the gun on himself. The horrific murder-suicide occurred at a home in Florida on the evening of July 24 after 34-year-old suspect Christopher Rowell was found dead alongside the three women. The three victims were identified as mum Marissa Rowell, 32; grandmother Sandra Fogarty, 71; and aunt Alisha Lael Fogarty, 33, according to a GoFundMe posted for the family. 'The family we lost were cherished individuals who brought joy and love to everyone around them,' relatives of the three women wrote in a fundraiser statement. 'We lost a devoted mother (Marissa Leara Rowell), who was a guiding light for her five-year-old daughter, a loving first-time grandmother (Sandra Gayle Fogarty) who waited her whole life to have a granddaughter in her life, and a devoted aunt (Alisha Lael Fogarty) who was crazy for her niece and loved spending hours playing games with her and being by her side like a sister,' the statement wrote. 'This child now faces a future without the warmth and loving support of her family, and we are committed to ensuring she receives the care and love she needs to heal from this traumatic incident,' the heartbroken family said.
Yahoo
05-08-2025
- Yahoo
Boston man arrested after trying to put chemical-soaked handkerchief over teen's mouth, DA says
A Boston man was arrested last week after he tried to put a chemical-soaked handkerchief over the mouth of a 14-year-old boy on the street in Roxbury, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office. Dorchester resident Willie Cowart, 69, pleaded not guilty to a charge of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in connection with the incident during his arraignment in Roxbury District Court on July 29, according to court records. On July 28, Boston and MBTA police responded to a report of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon near Dudley and Washington Streets in Roxbury shortly after 12:20 p.m., the district attorney's office said in a press release Monday. Officers spoke to the victim, who told them he was waiting for his brother to pick him up when an older man wearing a Hawaiian shirt came over to him, poured an unknown liquid on a red handkerchief and tried to put the handkerchief over his mouth, the district attorney's office said. The victim fled to the Nubian Square bus station and contacted police. Shortly after, officers on Dudley Street saw a man — who was later identified as Cowart — wearing a Hawaiian shirt and carrying a red handkerchief, the district attorney's office said. Cowart was 'sweating profusely' and denied knowing the victim or having any interaction with him. Police brought Cowart to the victim, who positively identified him, the district attorney's office said. The victim was evaluated on scene by emergency responders. Officers searched Cowart's car and found several chemical cleaning agents inside, the district attorney's office said. Police arrested him without incident. 'This is a strange, and extremely disturbing, set of facts. It doesn't take much imagination to appreciate how frightening it was for this young man to be standing on a street corner and suddenly be accosted in such a bizarre manner. I'm grateful that he suffered no apparent injuries,' Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden said in the release. During Cowart's arraignment, a judge released him on personal recognizance bail and ordered him to stay away from the victim and the incident location, the district attorney's office said. He is due back in court on Oct. 29 for an appointment of council hearing. More local crime stories Salem man guilty of 1971 cold case murder convicted of more charges Woman stole 8 boxes of ice cream from Boston CVS at knifepoint, police say Man shot, killed in Roxbury late Sunday night Central Mass. man indicted in connection with scheme involving more than $1M Worcester man sentenced to prison for murder of 23-year-old Read the original article on MassLive.
CBS News
04-08-2025
- CBS News
Boston man tried to put chemical-laced handkerchief on boy's mouth in "bizarre" assault, D.A. alleges
A 69-year-old Boston man is accused of trying to place a chemical-laced handkerchief over the mouth of a 14-year-old boy in what prosecutors are calling a "bizarre" assault. The incident happened in Roxbury at the corner of Dudley and Washington streets on July 28, shortly after noon. Willie Cowart, of Dorchester, was arrested and charged with one count of assault with a dangerous weapon (chemical handkerchief), the Suffolk County District Attorney's office said. Cowart pleaded not guilty to the charge in court last Wednesday. According to prosecutors, the boy told police he was waiting for a ride on a street corner "when an older man wearing a Hawaiian shirt approached, poured an unknown liquid on a red handkerchief, and tried to put the handkerchief over his mouth." The boy was able to run away to the Nubian Square bus station and called police. Officers found Cowart wearing a Hawaiian shirt and carrying a red handkerchief shortly after, the district attorney's office said, and the boy positively identified him. Police searched Cowart's car and found chemical cleaning agents inside, according to prosecutors. "This is a strange, and extremely disturbing, set of facts," Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden said in a statement Monday. "It doesn't take much imagination to appreciate how frightening it was for this young man to be standing on a street corner and suddenly be accosted in such a bizarre manner. I'm grateful that he suffered no apparent injuries." A judge released Cowart on personal recognizance and ordered him to stay away from the victim and the incident where the alleged assault occurred. He is due back in court on Oct. 29 for an appointment of counsel hearing, which a spokesperson for the district attorney's office said could be related to a court-appointed attorney work stoppage.
