Chicago Man Involved in 'Sickening' Facebook Torture Arrested Again

Tesfaye Cooper, who previously served 7 years for a hate crime, is accused of targeting another victim in a violent robbery.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 5:39pm

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Tesfaye Cooper, one of four suspects involved in the 2017 Facebook live-streamed torture of a white man with special needs, has been arrested again. Cooper and another man are accused of chasing, attacking, and robbing a bicyclist at a Chicago CTA station. The victim was reportedly targeted after waving at the suspects, who then claimed to be Gangster Disciples.

Why it matters

This case raises concerns about repeat offenders and the challenges of rehabilitation, as well as ongoing tensions around race and violence in Chicago. The previous 2017 incident sparked national outrage over the 'sickening' nature of the attack and the perpetrators' use of racial slurs.

The details

According to court records, Cooper and 33-year-old Mazi Pearson chased the white victim into a CTA station, cornered him, and attacked him. Pearson is accused of punching the man and spitting on him, while Cooper allegedly tried to hit the victim. The suspects then stole the victim's bicycle. Police arrested the two men near the scene, and Pearson was found to be carrying bags of heroin and cocaine.

  • In 2017, Cooper was among four suspects who initially pleaded not guilty after they tortured a white man with special needs, an incident that was live-streamed on Facebook.
  • In 2018, Cooper pleaded guilty to committing a hate crime and aggravated kidnapping and was sentenced to seven years in prison.
  • Cooper was arrested again on April 16, 2026 for the latest alleged attack and robbery.

The players

Tesfaye Cooper

A Chicago man who was previously convicted and sentenced to 7 years in prison for his role in the 2017 Facebook live-streamed torture of a white man with special needs. He has now been arrested again for allegedly targeting another victim in a violent robbery.

Mazi Pearson

A 33-year-old Chicago man who was arrested along with Cooper for the latest alleged attack and robbery. Pearson had active warrants for failure to appear in pending felony cases and was found to be carrying bags of heroin and cocaine.

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What they’re saying

“'It's sickening, it makes you wonder what would make individuals treat somebody like that. I've been a cop for 28 years, and I've seen things that you shouldn't see in a lifetime, but it still amazes me how you still see things that you just shouldn't. I'm not going to say it shocked me, but it was sickening.'”

— Eddie Johnson, Chicago Police Superintendent

What’s next

Cooper is charged with robbery, while Pearson is charged with robbery and drug possession. They are being held pending trial.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges of repeat offenders, rehabilitation, and racial tensions in Chicago, as a man previously convicted of a hate crime has now been arrested again for allegedly targeting another victim in a violent attack.