Two New York teenagers have been arrested after they were filmed stomping on a classmate's head in a “vicious attack.”
The two suspects, both 17, were also stabbed during the brawl at Martin van Buren High School in Queens on Thursday. The suspects suffered non-life-threatening injuries and both are in stable condition.
In shocking footage of the brawl released by the district attorney, the victim is pushed down the stairs and thrown against a door before a group of boys attack him.
“The brutality was horrifying under any circumstances, but that it occurred in a safe place for her children is just as disturbing as the violence captured on video,” said District Attorney Melinda Katz.
The two defendants face up to 15 years in prison if convicted. At least four other attackers who have not yet been arrested were seen on the video.
Two New York teenagers have been arrested after they were filmed stomping on a classmate's head in a “vicious attack.”
In the video of the attack, a boy grabs the victim down the stairs in the school corridor and slams him against a metal door.
The pair burst through the door and other students pounce on the victim, who is lying on his stomach on the floor, as they kick him and try to stomp on his head.
Someone briefly appears to be trying to help him to his feet before another attacker kicks him in the head.
He is then dragged to the stairs, where at least four other boys jump on him in a heap and start beating him.
The group of boys then appears to break up and the victim and a remaining attacker begin hitting each other in the stairwell.
The prosecution said: “Both defendants, along with four others who have not yet been arrested, kicked, kicked and punched the victim multiple times on the head and body while the victim was lying on the ground.”
They added that both defendants were stabbed during the fight.
One of them was stabbed in the stomach and the other in the shoulder, but neither suffered life-threatening injuries.
After the fight, it was discovered that one of the attackers was carrying a loaded pistol
The attackers piled on top of the victim on the stairs before scattering. Two 17-year-olds who were stabbed have been charged with “gang assault.” Another four people involved have not yet been arrested
Both were taken to Long Island Jewish Medical Center and are reported to be in stable condition.
When police officers arrived at the school, they grabbed the victim suspected of stabbing the two boys and took him to the 105th Precinct, the New York Daily News reported.
But the victim claimed self-defense and showed authorities the social media video of the attack that backed up his claim.
New York Daily News said the Queens district attorney's office then ordered police to vacate his arrest.
The victim suffered “bruises to his face and eye.”
A fellow student told the outlet on Thursday, “I was trying to walk my friend to her class and when we got to the stairwell we saw them arguing.”
“These two boys had an argument.” One of them lost badly, pulled out a knife and stabbed [the other one].'
The incident occurred shortly before 2 p.m. Thursday at Martin Van Buren High School in Queens
One student was stabbed in the stomach and the other in the shoulder, but neither suffered life-threatening injuries
After the fight, the principal's office was searched and the first suspected attacker was found with a Smith & Wesson 9mm semi-automatic pistol “loaded with one round in the chamber and seven rounds in the magazine.”
A “soft lockdown” was imposed on the school, with teachers locking classroom doors and turning off lights, but this was lifted at 3pm.
The first alleged assailant is charged with attempted first-degree gang assault, attempted first-degree assault, second-degree assault, two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a weapon on school grounds.
The second is charged with attempted first-degree gang assault, attempted first-degree assault and second-degree assault.
They are scheduled to appear in court on February 8.