Incident Involving a Boston Man and a Teenage Boy

A Boston man is accused of attempting to cover a 14-year-old boy’s mouth with a handkerchief believed to be laced with chemicals, as stated in a press release from the Suffolk County District Attorney on Monday.

On July 28, the boy was waiting for his brother when a man in a Hawaiian shirt approached him, trying to place the handkerchief on his mouth. The alleged perpetrator, 69-year-old Willie Cowart, was quickly apprehended by Boston police and faces charges of assault with a dangerous weapon and battery.

The boy, whose parents chose to remain anonymous, expressed his fear about the encounter. “It’s like facing your biggest fear,” he shared. “My heart was beating fast. I was really scared.”

Shortly after the incident, authorities found Cowart, who was reportedly sweating heavily. He claimed that “some cleaning agents” were in his car when searched.

“This situation is strange and disturbing. It doesn’t take much imagination to understand how terrifying it must have been for that young man to be approached like that,” noted a spokesperson, emphasizing that the boy was not visibly injured.

In a tweet, a local news station highlighted the seriousness of the accusation against Cowart, calling for increased police presence in the area. The boy reportedly commented that this was his first experience with such a frightening situation, and his parents were understandably worried about his safety.

Due to this incident, he now feels uneasy about going outside alone. “I can’t go outside. My mother told me that until I’m 20, I shouldn’t stay after school, which is hard,” he said.

Cowart is set to return to court on October 29.