WARNING: GRAPHIC FOOTAGE Many students at Rigby High School in Idaho stopped to watch the beating and even got their phones out to film it with videos spreading virally online
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16-year-old is viciously beaten in school hallway in Idaho
Parents have spoken out after their 16 year old girl was savagely assaulted at school in a shocking incident filmed by other students.
Another student seized her by the hair, slapped her face, dragged her to the ground and battered her head for a full minute last week at the incident at Rigby High School in Idaho.
As the brutal beating happened, other students stopped to watch, film the attack on their phones and even encourage the attacker.
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The footage reveals the freshman attacker stealthily approaching the sophomore victim from behind and launching an attack in the school corridor just after 2.30pm as she was leaving school, reports East Idaho News.
"She was jumped from behind by one student, she was ripped down by her hair and she banged her head on the ground," said the 16-year-old's father, Tyler Pincock. "No one stepped in. There were no teachers around. There were a lot of students around, and no one tried to break it up."
Her parents said she was left with blood pouring from her nose and sustaining several minor cuts and bruises, according to her parents. The fight stopped when another girl appeared, pulling on the attacker before leading her away from the victim.
The parents of the victim revealed that their daughter had received a text message or had heard earlier on Oct. 16 that the other girl "was going to do something," prompting her to try and avoid her.
The victim's father, Mr Pincock, revealed that his daughter was targeted in a vicious attack possibly spurred by jealousy over a boy. "My daughter's been bullied before, but not to this extent. She hadn't been assaulted, of course," he recounted.
"No one helps her up initially, like she crawls over to the lockers and she's bleeding, and someone eventually comes and helps her and kind of guides her into the teacher's classroom," Pincock detailed. Post-assault, a teacher tended to his daughter, providing immediate first aid, followed by the arrival of the school resource officer and an administrator.
The suspected perpetrator immediately left the school premises and was swiftly apprehended. The Pincocks' daughter is currently healing from severe trauma.
"She does not remember certain things that happened immediately (following the assault). She does not remember the teacher helping her with first aid. She does not remember giving a statement to the police officer, to the school resource officer," her dad recounted. "That's why we had to go to the school and watch videos so we could find out exactly what happened."
The Pincocks are still uncertain about whether their daughter will make a return to the high school. "She's the one having to question her safety at school when she did not do anything wrong," her father said. Footage of the fight from last week was also shared on TikTok and Facebook, sparking outrage and concern among local parents.
However, Jefferson County School District 251 Superintendent Chad Martin told parents: "Many of you may have seen the video of the recent act of violence at Rigby High School. I want to express my deep concern and disgust regarding this behavior there is no place for it in our schools or community.
"Please be assured that we are taking this matter very seriously. While we are unable to disclose specific disciplinary actions due to privacy laws, I want to provide clarity on the guidelines that govern our response in situations involving criminal behavior or policy violations."
However, Tyler Pincock is frustrated that school districts cannot share publicly the punishment that is ultimately imposed because of minors' privacy rights. "We always hear from school districts that there's a zero tolerance, and they're going to take action, but because of the law, they can't ever say what action was taken," he explained.
"What can be done to fix the system so people know that appropriate justice was served and to disincentivize or to dissuade kids from bullying? I think when they don't hear what happens, they don't think there's any punishment."
"Charges have been referred to the prosecutor's office, and some of the students that were videotaping are being disciplined through the school district as well,[" stated Jefferson County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Jennifer Fullmer.
The victim's parents have also revealed that they had a meeting with the prosecutor, seeking that their daughter's attacker faces a charge of battery.