Boy, 14, charged over alleged rock attack that left man unconscious

A 14-year-old boy has been charged with assault following an alleged rock-throwing incident outside a Hungry Jacks fast food restaurant in Mandurah, south of Perth. The attack left a 25-year-old man unconscious with severe facial injuries, requiring extensive medical treatment and a long road to recovery.

According to police, the altercation took place on Monday afternoon between a group of juveniles and the man outside the restaurant. During the incident, the man claimed he was hit with rocks before a 14-year-old boy threw a rock that caused him to fall face-first onto the bitumen.

Police noted that the man and the group of children did not know each other, and the incident was captured on video and shared on social media, with several juveniles seen surrounding the injured man in the car park. Mandurah acting senior sergeant Jamie Raper described the footage as "very confronting" and "horrific," acknowledging the community's distress over the event.

Sergeant Raper suggested that the juveniles may have been harassing restaurant workers earlier, prompting the man to intervene to protect them. He emphasized the importance of community members stepping back from such incidents and contacting emergency services by calling Triple Zero.

The arrested 14-year-old boy has been charged with assault occasioning bodily harm and is set to appear in court later this month. Police are aware of the identities of the other individuals involved and are continuing their investigation.