WATERBORO, Maine — A vicious attack at Massabesic High School was caught on video.
The mother of the girl that was beaten by another girl in the video spoke to CBS 13 about the attack.
“It’s disturbing. It’s hard to watch,” she said, noting that she had seen the video.
The attack happened at the school while students were changing classes. The mother of the 16-year-old victim said she can’t believe students saw what was happening, then kept walking.
The video shows no one stepping in to help.
The victim’s mother said she doesn’t know if anyone ran to get a teacher.
“My daughter’s only 98 pounds. She’s a tiny little thing,” the victim’s mother said.
“It’s terrifying to see your daughter go through something like that. It’s … it’s sickening,” she added.
The victim’s mother did not want to be identified, so as not to draw any more attention on her daughter.
She said she doesn’t know what provoked the attack, but she said she believes the attack was planned.
“It was planned out,” the victim’s mother said. “She knew when would be a good time to attack my daughter, because she knew there would be no teachers around.
“They wanted it recorded so they could put it up on social media,” she added.
The victim’s mother said the video has spread on social media, and students from several surrounding schools have seen the video. She wants both her daughter’s attacker and her accomplice punished.
Citing confidentiality, administrators won’t discuss the attack.
“They’re not telling me anything,” the victim’s mother said. “I don’t know if these students have been expelled or suspended. I’ve asked for more supervision outside when the kids are changing classes. They tell me that they don’t have the staff to do so.”
Administrators said they can’t share any details about the incident, but in a letter to the victim’s mother, Superintendent John Davis apologized and said he will address the matter swiftly and justly.
The victim’s mother said that Principal Christian Elkington said the attack was a terrible thing that happened and was dealing with it appropriately.
As for the girl attacked in the video, her mother said she was taken to the doctor right after the incident and is doing well.
“She has five large bruises on her head. They were swollen pretty bad. She’s got scratches on her face. And bruises on her arms from when she was trying to defend herself,” the victim’s mother said.
The girl who was attacked and beaten now has a restraining order against the other girl. However, the victim’s mother said her daughter is worried about repercussions and is afraid to walk outside without teacher supervision.
The school board is expected to take up the matter in executive session Wednesday night.