Sheriff’s Department concludes assault investigation at Graham-Kapowsin High School
The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department has finished its investigation into an assault captured on video at Graham-Kapowsin High School and posted to social media Monday. It concluded Wednesday that misdemeanor charges are warranted in the case.
Video of the attack shows one student repeatedly punching another in a school bathroom while others watch and record it. The victim is a special needs student, according to his mother on social media.
“At this time, there were no serious injuries that were reported,” said sheriff’s spokesperson Sgt. Darren Moss Wednesday. “It’s being forwarded to the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for misdemeanor charges.”
If the boy had been seriously injured, the suspect in the attack could be charged with a felony, Moss said.
Bethel School District officials are conducting their own investigation into the incident.
“I am disturbed and outraged that this happened at our school,” the school’s principal, Matt Yarkosky, said in a letter sent to parents and guardians Wednesday evening.
Yarkosky said the incident happened before school Monday and that both students walked to class afterwards. It was only after a teacher noticed something “wasn’t right” with one of the students that action was taken.
According to reports, both students were suspended Monday. Yarkosky seemed to confirm that in his letter.
“During an investigation into an incident like this, the first priority is student safety,” he wrote. “Our first goal is often to get both parties out of the school building to help de-escalate the situation. This sometimes means suspending one or both parties while we work to gather further information.”
Yarksosky then went on to say that while several students filmed the event and posted the video to social media, they refused to make a statement or provide details.
“This behavior glorifies violence and encourages other students seeking attention to do something similar,” he said.
A GoFundMe account has been created to help the victim with medical and legal expenses.
This story was originally published February 16, 2022 at 2:12 PM.
