Teen ambushed by 9 schoolmates after standing up to boys bullying a girl in school cafeteria: police
The 17-year-old boy received 11 stitches on his face following the alleged attack, which was captured on video
NEED TO KNOW
- Students between the ages of 14 and 18 were arrested this week following the incident outside Harmony High School
- Video of the attack shows several suspects repeatedly punching and beating the teen outside his car
- Police say the victim had intervened earlier that day when two of the suspects were bullying a girl
Authorities in Florida say a 17-year-old was brutally beaten by nine schoolmates who “chose to gang up” on him hours after he stood up to bullies harassing a female student.
Nine students between the ages of 14 and 18 were arrested in connection with the Friday, Oct. 16 attack near Harmony High School in St. Cloud, Fla., the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
Police made the arrests on Wednesday. Among the suspects are Quianelle Antonio Reyes-Cintron and Brian Alexander Ramirez, both 18, along with six juveniles.
The investigation revealed the 17-year-old male victim was in the cafeteria at Harmony High during lunch on Friday when he observed a girl being bullied by students, who were throwing carrots at her, the OCSO said in its statement.
He told them to stop, leading to a verbal confrontation with two of the suspects, police said.
Later that day, police say, the victim was walking to his car near the school when he was allegedly struck by one of the juvenile suspects.
The other eight suspects allegedly ganged up on him and “repeatedly threw punches at the victim’s face and head, leaving him bloodied and injured,” according to the OCSO.
Police arrested the nine students Wednesday and publicly identified eight of them. The graphic video shows the victim walking up to his car as curse words are exchanged. All the faces are blurred in the video and it’s not clear who is speaking.
As the teen opens the door of his car, one suspect runs up to him and punches him in the face.
The suspect continues punching the teen, who appears to try to push him away, before another suspect joins the attack.
At one point, the teen is against the car and at least four people are seen beating him.
The camera briefly moves away from the scene. The attack appears to briefly stop before two suspects are seen punching the teen again.
The teen was taken to a hospital, where he received 11 stitches for facial injuries, the OCSO said.
“Students deserve a violence-free learning environment, and we will ensure that standard is met,” Sheriff Chris Blackmon said in an update.
“This victim did the right thing by standing up for another student being bullied,” Blackmon said. “He is the brave one; the 9 teens that chose violence against him are the cowards.”
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The nine defendants were charged with felony aggravated battery and felony inciting a riot, according to the OCSO statement. Reyes-Cintron has been additionally charged with battery – touch or strike, according to his online court records.
Reyes-Cintron’s attorneys tells PEOPLE in a statement they will enter a plea of not guilty for their client, and said they plan on “defending him rigorously.”
Online court records for the other defendants were not available as of Thursday afternoon. It wasn’t immediately clear if they have entered pleas.
Calls to Harmony High School went unanswered on Thursday afternoon; the School District of Osceola County did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
District Superintendent Mark Shanoff said in a statement to FOX 35 Orlando: “Let me be clear: physical intimidation, threats, or acts of violence of any kind will not be tolerated in our schools or in our community, whether on or off campus.”
