Thank you Maria. Unfortunately Ben passed away this afternoon. We don't know too much information, but this is the article from the Pioneer Press yesterday. If you could keep his mother and friends in your prayers that would be nice. Thanks.
St. Paul police are seeking help in identifying three young men who chased and seriously beat a 15-year-old boy as he and several other boys left the Washington Middle School recreation center Monday night in St. Paul's North End.
The boy, who neighbors identified as Ben Doran, was listed in critical condition at Regions Hospital.
A family friend, who declined to be identified, said Doran, a sophomore at Como Park Senior High School, is the only child of his single mother. The family friend described the youth as a likable kid who loved basketball.
Doran had left the center and was walking with three other boys in the 1000 block of Woodbridge Avenue about 8:15 p.m. Monday when a car pulled up next to the group. Words were exchanged and the occupants of the car got out and started chasing the four boys.
"Three older kids caught our victim and assaulted him," said St. Paul Police Cmdr. Nancy Di Perna, who heads the homicide unit.
Investigators said the assailants, about 19 to 23 years old, beat Doran with their hands and feet and made statements indicating the attack was in retaliation for a previous incident.
The boy was able to walk as far as a block and a half before collapsing. A woman on a cell phone placed the first of many 911 calls to police notifying them about the attack.
Witnesses said the assailants got out of a newer silver or gray sports car with a white placard where the license plate would have been. The placard had a red script logo that said "Wayzata,'' possibly from a car dealership in Wayzata.