The attack left Gavin with a mild concussion, a bruised esophagus, a fractured nose, and a hematoma in his eye, according to the Independent. Instead of responding with anger or seeking revenge, he decided to turn his pain into a lesson—one that might help prevent others from experiencing the same kind of violence.
Autistic teen who got bullied refused to press charges, had one request for their parents
In 2015, Gavin Joseph, was tricked by bullies who attacked him for being 'weird' and 'creepy.'
Some people respond to cruelty with more cruelty. Others choose a different path—one that teaches instead of punishes. That’s exactly what Gavin Joseph, a teenager from Illinois with Asperger’s syndrome, did after being attacked simply for being different. In 2015, a group of boys pretended to befriend him, only to lure him into a violent assault. They targeted him because they found his condition “weird” and “creepy,” showing just how deeply misunderstanding and ignorance can fuel cruelty. According to a study, boys with progressive views on gender equality are less likely to be violent—highlighting how education and empathy can make a difference.
Despite the physical injuries, Gavin made it clear that he wasn’t seeking punishment for his attackers. Instead, he wanted them to learn. His mother, Cortnie Stone, shared the story on Facebook explaining what led to the attack, HuffPost reported.
"Some kids were talking about how it’s weird that he’s always by himself, attending events alone and watching people, and that it was ‘creepy’ how he wanted to be friends with people he didn’t know," she wrote. One boy took it upon himself to "become judge and jury," ambushing Gavin with a group of strangers. He was choked, punched, and left on the pavement to "learn his lesson."
"He did not press charges, but requested their community service be disability-related, that they write a paper on Asperger’s, and that they watch a 20-minute video statement he taped while their families were present so they could see the damage they did and hear the event from his perspective," Stone explained. She also spoke about Gavin’s struggles growing up with Asperger’s. “We found out that Gavin had Asperger’s and ADHD when he was 3 years old, and growing up, we’ve had as many wonderful times as we’ve had difficult/frustrating times. It doesn't prohibit his movement, or ability to walk, but it makes everyday interactions with people very difficult. He can appear rude, impatient, 'weird', detached, or uninterested, but this is not intentional," she wrote.
Stone wanted people to understand that kids like Gavin often struggle with friendships and social interactions. She also urged parents to teach their children about invisible disabilities. "If you are reading this, I hope you talk to your teens, tell them about disabilities you can’t see, teach them to be tolerant of people that are different, teach them that if they continuously see someone alone that maybe it is not their choice to be alone, remind them to ask questions first and get to know one another." The story has recently resurfaced on Reddit after u/Mrunicornadventurer posted it and it is making waves. People are sharing their thoughts and praising Gavin for his response.
u/Royal-Application708 wrote, "I hope the ones that beat this poor dude up realize the gift that he gave them by not pressing charges." u/deaddaftskrill1 shared how they knew the guy, saying, "I went to school with Gavin back when. He was a solid guy and didn’t bother anyone. The rest of the school was mad as hell when they found out he got beat up." u/Redback_Gaming said, "This kid is far more human than any of his attackers. It’s his attackers that are 'weird!' Disgusting behavior!" u/CoachMatt314 added, "This man is not weird, he is rare, he is apparently a kind, caring, empathetic person. The world needs more people like him."
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