Chicago Man Arrested Again After 2017 Torture Case
A Chicago man who was part of the Facebook livestreamed torture of a white man with special needs back in 2017 has been arrested once more.
Tesfaye Cooper, who, along with three others, previously kidnapped and tortured a man in a widely shared online video, was taken into custody again. According to CWB Chicago, he now faces charges for targeting another victim.
Court documents indicate that Cooper was arrested after he and another individual chased, assaulted, and robbed a bicyclist at the Clark Lake CTA station. The other person involved, identified as 33-year-old Maji Pearson, had an outstanding warrant for failing to appear in an ongoing felony case.
Reports suggest that the victim, who is white, interacted with the suspects and made a gesture as he passed by. In response, Cooper and Pearson claimed to be part of a local gang.
The two men allegedly pursued the victim through a ticket gate and cornered him. Pearson is accused of hitting the man in the shoulder while Cooper attempted to attack him. Following the altercation, Pearson reportedly spat at the victim before stealing his bicycle and fleeing the scene.
Law enforcement was notified and managed to apprehend the suspects nearby. Pearson had several baggies of heroin and cocaine in his possession at the time of arrest.
According to CWB Chicago, Cooper faces robbery charges, while Pearson is charged with two counts of robbery and possession of a controlled substance. Both individuals have been ordered to remain in custody pending trial.
Cooper was one of four suspects who pleaded not guilty in early 2017 after their involvement in the torture of a man identified as having schizophrenia.
All four suspects are charged with hate crimes, aggravated kidnapping, unlawful restraint, and aggravated assault using a deadly weapon. Additionally, three of them face burglary charges, and one suspect has been charged with robbery and possession of a stolen vehicle.
A disturbing video streamed on Facebook Live captured the victim, bound and gagged, as his assailants shouted derogatory remarks while physically assaulting him—eventually forcing him to drink water from a toilet.
Reports indicate that the victim managed to escape and was later found wandering the neighborhood, “bloodied and incoherent.”
In a statement about the horrifying video, Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson expressed his disbelief, noting his long career in law enforcement and the disturbing nature of the events.
Cooper ultimately pleaded guilty to hate crime and aggravated kidnapping charges in 2018 and was sentenced to seven years in prison, as CBS News reported at that time.
