5 city teens indicted in SHS student beating

Shamal Jackson-Dixon (Rochester Police photos)

Zachary Colbroth

DOVER, N.H. - Five Rochester teenagers have been indicted in the brutal beating of a Spaulding High School student in September.

The charges range from riot, to simple assault to second-degree assault in connection with the melee, which occurred around 8:30 p.m. in a Spaulding High parking lot on Sept. 5, the night of a home Red Raider football game.

Among those indicted by a Strafford County grand jury are Dylan Boston, 17, of 52 Hanson St., Michael Burke, 16, of 21 Norway Plains Road, Zachary Colbroth, 19, of 21 Norway Plains Road #13, Cody Cook, 18, of 4 Clearwater Drive, and Shamal Jackson-Dixon, 19, of 8 Lafayette St., Apt. A.

The melee erupted as the victim sought to break up a fight between one of the individuals indicted and a student who was attending the football game.

"The victim stepped in to try to break up the fight and was basically jumped by the others," said Rochester Police Capt. Gary Boudreau."

Cody Cook

Jackson-Dixon was indicted on the most serious crime, second-degree assault, which differs from simple assault in that it stems from "manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life." Jackson-Dixon is alleged to have kicked the victim in the head while he lay on the ground.

Boston is also charged with criminal threatening and simple assault for allegedly pushing the victim in the chest, each Class A misdemeanors punishable by 12 months in jail.

Burke was indicted on simple assault for allegedly punching the victim in the head and criminal trespass because Spaulding High officials told him earlier in the week he was prohibited from being on school grounds, both Class A misdemeanors.

Dylan Boston

Colbroth was also charged with simple assault for allegedly kicking the victim in the head area and criminal trespass.

Cook was charged with simple assault. He is alleged to have punched the victim in the chest.

The victim continues his recovery from the incident.

All five were charged with riot, a Class B felony punishable by up to 15 years in state prison. Riot is defined as when two or more are engaged in "tumultuous or violent conduct" that causes public alarm.

The indictments were handed down on Nov. 20 and released to the public on Monday.

An indictment is not an indication of guilt, only that sufficient evidence has been provided to a grand jury to warrant a trial.

Michael Burke