Middle school student in stable but critical condition after being sucker punched on campus
09/21/2019 7:47 am PDT
By Tracy Wolfe and Chris Wolfe, KTLA
RIVERSIDE COUNTY, Calif. (KTLA) -- A 13-year-old middle school student in Moreno Valley is hospitalized in stable but critical condition three days after he was punched by two other boys on campus, officials said Thursday.
Two 13-year-old boys were arrested in connection with the caught-on-video assault, which occurred just before 1:10 p.m. Monday at Landmark Middle School, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.
Deputies were dispatched to a fight involving students on the campus, located at 15261 Legendary Dr., a sheriff's news release stated.
Cellphone video that circulated on social media showed Diego being hit in the face by one boy, then sucker punched to the side of his head by another. The second blow caused him to fall and hit his head violently against a pillar.
The boy who initially hit Diego then hurries over to punch him again while he's on the ground, according to the footage. He then runs off and the video ends.
After, Diego was rushed to the hospital in critical condition.
Both teens were booked into Riverside County Juvenile Hall on suspicion of assault likely to produce great bodily harm, according to the Sheriff's Department. Neither has been identified.
Classmates told KTLA the victim had been bullied previously, including on social media. They also indicated violence has been an ongoing problem at the school.