A schoolgirl was allegedly pinned down by two boys before being raped by a third. The suspects reportedly forced rocks into the 12-year-old's mouth to prevent her from screaming while the attack was carried out.

Police said the victim was taken to a community garden in Miami, US, where Jusiah Jones, 12, and Xavier Tyson, 15, allegedly pinned her to the ground before 13-year-old Nelson Nunez raped her. The three suspects, who appeared in court on Monday (March 23), have been charged as adults while Nunez will remain in jail as he awaits trial and Jones was granted house arrest.

As reported by NBC Miami, judge Richard Hersch said: "The horrific nature of this assault is not diminished by the age of these defendants. They are both facing up to life in prison for their participation in this attack on a 12-year-old girl."

The victim was reportedly taken to the Green Haven Project at 1160 Northwest 2nd Avenue, a community garden in Overtown, by the group of boys on June 18, 2025. The three suspects have now been charged with a number of offences, including kidnapping and false imprisonment.

Jean-Michael D'Escoubet, defending Jones, claimed the 12-year-old was pressured into the attack by Tyson and Nunez. He said: "The position he was in is that he was forced to do the things that he did by the other two children as a threat of force. And those are the words of the young victim herself."

Meanwhile, Bijan Sebastian, defending Nunez, said the 13-year-old has admitted to the crime and shown remorse. He has called for his release from custody.

He said: "Disappointed, they are disappointed. He is a young child, he is 13 years old, of course these are serious allegations but he is 13 years old, so of course he was hoping to reunite with his family. The family was hoping to be reunited."