Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

Student Arrested After Video Shows Beating of Special Needs Peer at School

Footage shows the victim being punched repeatedly while a group of students stands by, watching and laughing

A Southern California student was arrested after video surfaced online showing a special needs student being attacked at a Santa Clarita high school, officials said Sunday.

"I was appalled that someone would go after anyone, especially a special needs child," said Linda Storli, who has taught in the William S. Hart District for 30 years and serves as a board member.

The assault occurred last Thursday at West Ranch High School on the 26200 block of Valencia Boulevard, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. A bystander caught the beating on video and later posted it on social media.

Students said the victim approached a group of peers and was attacked by one of them. Footage shows the victim being punched repeatedly while a group of students stands by, watching, laughing and holding up cellphones.

Authorities said a student involved in the attack was arrested on Friday and held on battery charges.

Other students held a rally on campus Friday and wore black in support of the victim. Many also turned to social media using the hashtag #justicefor(name) and #standwith(name).

Students Matthew Padilla and Grayson Thomas saw video of the assault and were upset to learn so many of their peers had watched and taken video instead of trying to break up the fight.

"This generation is obsessed with retweets and favorites. You can tell that every person [in the video], no one was not on their phone. Everyone is trying to record it and be the first one to be popular on Twitter," Padilla said.

Detectives with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station will continue to investigate the incident along with West Ranch Administrators and the William S. Hart Union High School District Administration.

"I don't know what the administration is going to do," Storli said. "If they were my students or my children, I would want them to have done the right thing."

The principal at West Ranch sent home a letter to parents, saying in part: "We stand for peace, and we must do this for all students... Safety is our first priority."

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station at 661-255-1121. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

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