Four teenagers are facing charges after an attack that occurred near a high school in Leduc, Alta., on Monday.
RCMP said officers responded just after noon on Oct. 16 to a violent assault involving several youth in a parking lot near 50th Street and Corinthia Drive, which is near both a high school and junior high in the city south of Edmonton.
The 17-year-old who was attacked outside a convenience store near Leduc Composite High School said the incident started when he asked a girl for a cigarette.
He said she swore at him and he then called her a number of profanities. That’s when a group began to surround him and yell.
“One of them came with a right hook I didn’t see and they almost instantly knocked me out,” said the teen who was attacked. Global News is not disclosing his identity to protect him.
“I was in a lot of pain.”
That’s when three others jumped in and began kicking the 17-year-old boy in the head and body.
The teen lives with some disabilities and the boy’s mom told Global News he can sometimes miss social cues.
“He’s trying to make friends,” said the boy’s mother, whose identity Global News is not disclosing because of concerns for her son’s safety.
“He doesn’t know how to make friends. He says the wrong things — what he said was the very wrong thing. I don’t know why that came up.”
The teen told Global News he is scared to go back to school.
Anti-bullying organization Dare To Care works with neurodivergent kids and teens. Lisa Dixon-Wells often sees those kids targeted.
“It’s very easy for a child with bullying tendencies to attack these kids physically, verbally or cyber bullying because they are easy targets,” Dixon-Wells said.
The boy was taken to hospital with unknown injuries but RCMP said he has since been released and are recovering at home. He suffered a concussion, the boy and mother told Global News.
Global News obtained footage of the attack, which can be seen in the video player above. We have altered the video and audio because the Youth Criminal Justice Act protects the identities of suspects and witnesses. We have not altered the contents.
As a result of the investigation, four teenagers from Leduc — two 13-year-olds, a 14-year-old and a 16-year old — were arrested and charged with assault causing bodily harm.
The youths, who cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, have been released from custody and are scheduled to appear in court in Leduc on Nov. 10.
On Oct. 24, RCMP said an additional charge had been laid. A 12-year-old youth, a resident of Leduc, was charged with assault causing bodily harm.
Leduc RCMP said officers are working closely with the Black Gold School Division and Leduc and Area Violent Threat Risk Assessment Team members to continue to support the community.
“This information is only being shared to raise awareness about the violent occurrence. This information is not to be used to carry out unlawful and harmful acts against anyone,” said Leduc RCMP public information officer Const. Cheri-Lee Smith.
The Black Gold School Division issued a statement Tuesday about the incident, saying it’s working with RCMP and the risk assessment team.
“We are shocked by this incident and deeply concerned for the victim and their family,” said Black Gold superintendent Bill Romanchuk. “We will do whatever we can to support them during this very difficult time.”
“It is important that we allow the professionals to deal with the situation and not have anyone attempt to take matters into their own hands – that will only make things worse.”
The investigation into the attack continues, police said.