On Thursday afternoon, a video started circulating the internet showing a teenager – now identified as a Huntington Beach High School student – mercilessly punching one of his classmates, Austin, who is blind.
By the end of that video, most of you probably know by now that the bully got what was coming to him when another student, Cody, intervened, knocking him senselessly to the pavement before berating him with questions of, “You punching a fucking blind kid, bro!?” as blood ran down the assailant’s face.
As if the bully in question didn’t get enough of his own medicine courtesy of the knockout punch he received going viral on the internet, well, now it seems as if legal justice may be in quesiton too.
ABC Local 7 reports that the bully has been arrested for his actions seen in the disturbing video:
Huntington Beach police said the fight, which was caught on video and shared on social media, took place on campus at about 12:30 p.m. The video shows a male student beating up his classmate, and then a third student intervening and hitting the suspect, knocking him to the ground.
The third student is heard asking the suspect why he was “hitting a blind kid,” police said in a news release. That same student who stepped in also told the suspect to leave the teen alone in the future or he will face the consequences.
Detectives, along with school officials and resource officers launched an investigation following the alleged case of bullying.
Officials learned the victim and suspect know each other and have a history of not getting along. Police said the victim walked past the suspect at the school Wednesday afternoon, and an argument started, which then turned physical.
“It does not appear the incident has any connection with the victim’s disability,” police stated in the news release.
Right…
The suspect was arrested for misdemeanor battery and released to his parents. Authorities said no other arrests were going to be made in this case.
And I’m sure his parents are none too thrilled right now, either. “Disappointed” is an understatement, to put it mildly.
At least it is refreshing to hear that most HBHS students have the victim’s back, and support the manner in which the assault was broken up.
Most of the students Eyewitness News talked with said the student who came in to break up the fight did the right thing.
“So many people came out at once and said he’s blind, and he continued to fight. But the one that broke it up, glad he was there,” said Devin Carty.
“Well I thought that it was good that the guy came in and broke it up because the kid was blind, and that’s totally not necessary to punch him,” said Maddie Botts. “He probably shouldn’t have beat him up. To break it up he probably could have gone to a teacher or something, but I’m glad he was there because he broke it up.”
They also think the person who broke up the fight shouldn’t be punished.
“I think it was the right thing to do because like he’s messing with a blind kid, and that’s not cool,” said Chase Burton.
“Personally I think that the kid that originally started the fight should be the only one to get into any trouble,” said Ben Tappeiner.
Just be nice to everyone, kids.
[via ABC Local 7]