'I was in a headlock': 14-year-old boy recovering after violent attack at Pleasant Grove High School
A violent attack at Pleasant Grove High School in Elk Grove sent a 14-year-old boy to the hospital after he was assaulted by a group of students, resulting in the arrest of four students. Hunter, who didn’t want to share his last name, said that it all started over a girl he used to date, who he said then dated one of the alleged attackers. "I just got out of class and then I just see that group of kids coming towards me," Hunter said. He described how one of the students approached him while yelling and punched him. He said as he took off his backpack and tried to defend himself, three other students joined in the attack. "More kids started going in and I was in a headlock. And then, I got thrown to the floor and, like, this kid is like, three times my size, and he's like sitting on me, throwing punches at me and then another kid joins in, kicks me and starts hitting me," he said.Screenshots from a video sent to Hunter's father by the Elk Grove Police Department show the fight ending with Hunter face down on the ground as a teacher intervened. "I literally got full-on stomped into concrete like face down," Hunter said. "I'm just laying on the floor. I'm not even fighting back."The four students involved, all 14 years old, were arrested on assault charges and taken to juvenile hall, according to the Elk Grove Police Department. Hunter was taken to the hospital following the attack, where he was treated for his injuries, including a concussion. "He told me he's like, 'Dad I could have been killed. I could be paralyzed. I couldn't play football anymore,'" Sean, Hunter's father, said. While Hunter is expected to recover, his father said he wished more had been done sooner. "It just blows my mind that where's security? You know, there's teachers there," he said.The school principal sent a message to families on Thursday, stating that school staff and security responded immediately to de-escalate the situation and emphasized that safety is their top priority. “Today, an altercation occurred on campus involving several students. School staff, along with EGUSD Safety and Security, responded immediately to de-escalate the situation and ensure the safety of all students. Due to the nature of the incident, law enforcement was called as a precautionary measure.Thanks to the swift and coordinated actions of our staff, the situation was contained. School administration, law enforcement, and support staff are actively following up with the students involved and have contacted their parents/guardians directly,” the message reads.However, Hunter said he does not feel safe. "I got jumped twice in the same month," he said. Now, his father is considering pulling him out of Pleasant Grove High School. "What's going on at the school with social media, the violence, the just the kids getting off on it, like thinking it's like it's entertainment at school these days. It's just, it blows my mind," he said.Elk Grove Unified School District is investigating the incident.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
