ENID, Okla. — An Enid teenager remained hospitalized Wednesday afternoon after undergoing surgery for injuries he suffered during a fight with another student on school grounds.
The Enid Public Schools Police Department report called the incident “aggravated battery” and a “hate/bias” incident.
A family friend, who talked to the victim’s mother, said the 14-year-old boy suffered a fractured cheek and needed surgery to put in a plate.
The victim’s mother did not return our calls but she is expressing her anger on social media.
“She is devastated. She’s not sleeping, of course,” family friend Joy Buckminster said.
The boy’s mother posted a photo of him on Facebook, in the hospital with blood on his face.
The fight happened at Longfellow Middle School in Enid Tuesday afternoon.
“If the teachers were there on the playground whenever it took place, he wouldn’t be in the hospital right now,” Buckminster said. “So the school obviously wasn’t managing their kids.”
According to the campus police report, the boys were playing dodgeball.
The report states when they bumped into each other, the suspect claimed that the victim told him to go back to the islands, meaning Marshall Islands.
The report states, “(the suspect) said after hitting (the victim) in the face, (the victim) fell onto the asphalt and (the suspect) said he went down to where (the victim) was laying and he kept hitting him until he heard someone start screaming then he quit hitting him.”
Jeff Rust is starting a fund to help the family.
“A fight is one thing, but a beating is uncalled for,” he said. “Whether somebody says something or not, that’s one thing. But going to the extent, that’s a totally different story there.”
“He needs to have something done,” Buckminster said. “Not just a slap on the wrist and ‘Oh, sorry you put a kid in the hospital.’ Something needs to be done.”
Enid Public Schools Superintendent Shawn Hime did not agree to an interview but sent a statement.
It stated the campus police are investigating and legal charges are pending.
No disciplinary action was mentioned.
The District Attorney said he’s received the investigation from campus police but he can’t say whether charges will be filed.
A fund to help the family has been set up at the Alva State Bank in Enid.