12-y-o charged for schoolyard attack

A 12-year-old boy from Portland has been charged with assault occasioning bodily harm after a video showing him physically assaulting another boy on a school compound went viral on social media.

The video, which surfaced last Thursday, shows the 12-year-old aggressively shoving, punching, and kicking his peer while other students looked on. Following the circulation of the 47-second clip, the incident was reported to the police, who launched an investigation. The boy was charged yesterday, and the case will be brought before the Children's Court.

In response to the incident, Laurette Adams-Thomas, CEO of the Child Protection and Family Services Agency, expressed concern over the students' apparent indifference to the violence in the video, noting the serious impact of bullying on both victims and perpetrators.

"The video was horrifying; and it is more so disturbing to think that based on the participation and reaction of the students, that they were unfazed by this type of violence. In cases of bullying no one is left unscathed. The victim may experience immediate and devastating effects such as anxiety, depression, and a significant drop in self-esteem, which can also lead to long-term difficulties in personal relationships, academic performance, and even future employment prospects," Adams-Thomas said.

She called on students to "be brave and speak out regarding incidents of bullying or any other forms of abuse that you may see".