Fundraiser Set Up For Teen Injured In Sesame Place Mask Assault

LANGHORNE, PA — Supporters of a 17-year-old boy who was injured while working at Sesame Place have set up a fundraiser to help with his recovery.

The teen, who has not been identified publicly, was punched in the face and knocked to the ground on Aug. 9, after reminding a couple that park coronavirus rules required them to wear masks, police said. The attack, according to a GoFundMe page, put him in the hospital for a week and required double jaw surgery and the removal of a tooth.

Visit the 17-year-old Sesame Place employee's GoFundMe page

"This traumatic injustice dulled the spirits of a teenager who is so full of love, kindness, and overall radiates sunshine around family and friends," wrote Quaneesha Shields, who organized the fundraiser.

According to the page, Shields is a close family friend who created the fundraiser with the permission of the teen's grandmother and aunt. Middletown Township Police, who investigated the attack, shared a link to the fundraiser on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, a couple from New York City was charged in the Sesame Place attack. Troy McCoy, 39, was arrested by U.S. Marshals after attempting to barricade himself in his home early Wednesday. Arrangements were made for Shakerra Bonds, 31, of the same address, to turn herself in to Middletown Township Police.

According to police, the 17-year-old was working near the Langhorne amusement park's Captain Cookie's High C Adventure ride when he reminded a man and woman they needed to be wearing masks due to the park's coronavirus rules.

The two "responded to the request in an aggressive manner, closing the distance ... causing him to back up," according to police.

"During the course of this confrontation, they escalated the incident with both the female and male striking the 17-year-old male Sesame Place staff member in the face, knocking him to the ground," police said.

A second Sesame Place employee tried to break things up and was also punched in the face by the woman, police said.

According to the GoFundMe page, the teen has been released from the hospital and is "taking it day by day, even in the midst of experiencing excrutiating pain and the inability to perform simple tasks, such as eating solid foods and talking."

"This is an extremely difficult, overwhelming, and unexplainable time as family and friends are praying for justice and healing," Shields wrote on the page. "I am asking for the community to come together to provide financial assistance for this teenager's medical, mental health and unforeseen expenses."

Wednesday afternoon, the campaign had raised $6,777 of a $10,000 goal.

To visit the GoFundMe campaign, click here.