Update | JC student in viral slap video arrested and charged

The Jamaica College student seen in a viral video repeatedly slapping a schoolmate has now been arrested and charged, as the fallout from the disturbing campus incident continues to unfold.

Acting Senior Superintendent Mark Harris, commanding officer for the St Andrew Central Police, confirmed to The STAR on Friday that the Grade 11 student has been charged with assault occasioning bodily harm.

The teenager's name has not been released.

Sources told The STAR that the student was charged on Thursday and later released after being granted station bail.

According to reports, the incident happened at the Old Hope Road-based all-boy school last Thursday, but only gained widespread attention after a 56-second video surfaced on social media over the weekend.

In the clip, several students are seen surrounding a schoolmate before one boy grabs him by the collar and repeatedly slaps him across the face.

Another student is also seen striking the boy with what appears to be a belt, while questions about money are heard being asked during the confrontation.

A statement from the school earlier this week said the student who was assaulted had admitted in writing to taking "certain items" belonging to a group of boys he was socialising with.

The items reportedly included a jacket, a pair of glasses and cash.

The statement further claimed that the boy initially denied taking the items, but later admitted to it and agreed to return them. However, the school said he only partially complied and missed agreed deadlines for full restitution.

According to The STAR, the school's account says the situation escalated when the "aggrieved student" confronted him over the outstanding items, leading to the physical altercation captured in the video.

The school said all students involved were interviewed in the presence of their parents and signed statements were taken.

They are now scheduled to appear before the school's disciplinary committee for further action, even as police continue their own investigation into the matter.

- Livern Barrett

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