A disturbing video has surfaced of a student argument between some English high school students that turned into a vicious beating.
The video, shot by an onlooker and obtained by Bell Media, shows several students from other English schools arguing with a Grade 9 student from Lester B. Pearson high school in Riviere des Prairies.
Suddenly one of the teens sucker-punches the LBP student in the head, and he curls into a ball as several teens kick, punch, and jump on him.
Though some bystanders objected, the crowd remained motionless throughout the attack, others film with their cell phones.
Despite the fight occurring off school grounds, English Montreal School Board spokesperson Michael Cohen says four students have been suspended indefinitely.
"Each one of them have been identified, the police will be dealing with them. They are minors," he says. "We have zero tolerance for this kind of action, it's completely unacceptable."
Cohen says the victim in the video was taken to hospital but released, suffering some pain and bruising but not serious injuries.
"There are fights that happen at schools, that happens at any school in the world probably," he says. “This is bullying of the highest degree and also, when you’re standing by, you’re ‘bystanders.'”
Speaking with CJAD 800’s Aaron Rand Cohen says he didn’t think kids should have tried to intervene because of the violent nature of the incident, but noted they did have other options.
“No one should be watching. They have phones. They should be walking away. They should’ve been calling 9-1-1. The police should have been there yestreday, they shouldn't have been looking into this today.”
A father that CJAD 800 spoke with outside Lester B. Pearson high school called the violence "sick.," adding "everybody’s watching. All those people there...as if it's a wrestling match, as if they're at a hockey game or something."
The school has contacted the police and will be investigating further before deciding on further punishment for the students involved, including those who stood by.
With files from CJAD 800's Shawn Dearn.