A Richmond father says he is experiencing a whirlwind of emotions after his 14-year-old daughter remained unconscious on school grounds.
The victim was allegedly attacked Thursday at Hugh Boyd High School. The suspect is a 17-year-old boy who is also a student. He was arrested last week and then released on bail. None of the teenagers can be identified because they are under 18 years old.
The girl received injuries that police described as “serious but not life-threatening”.
“I’m happy that she can walk, talk and all that, but I’m still very upset that even that happened,” the father told CTV News.
He said he was also disappointed with the school that he did not contact him immediately, instead he was called by his younger daughter and his daughter’s friends.
“It would be much better if school really was that [who called] right away, “he said.
The victim told CTV News that the attack was shocking, unprovoked and hateful.
“He approaches me and calls me F-sum, and he says he hates all Asians. And he hates all Asians. And then I was on the floor and he was trying to attack me,” she recalled.
“Then he hit me and then I fainted.”
She was sent to hospital after the incident and made several re-visits after she was released.
“She’s tougher than most kids I know,” her father said.
The 14-year-old said she had never communicated with the 17-year-old student before.
“He thought I was telling people he liked another girl when I didn’t. And I don’t think I could have known anyway, because I haven’t even talked to him before, “she said.
Mounties, meanwhile, says they are working with the Richmond school district to ensure the “safety and well-being” of students after the attack.
On Tuesday, the Richmond RCMP said the incident remained under investigation by its youth section, which deals with school incidents under the parameters of the Juvenile Criminal Justice Act.
“We recognize that these types of incidents can have a detrimental effect on the entire school community.” Ian Henderson said in a statement.
“Richmond RCMP staff and school liaison officers are committed and working with the Richmond School District to ensure the safety and well-being of all concerned.”
The district said additional consultations were being offered to the school community.
A spokesman told CTV News that the older student had not returned to Hugh Boyd since Tuesday morning.
“As stated in the Richmond School Code of Conduct, the Board of Education recognizes its commitment to all members of the school community to ensure a positive climate and a safe, healthy environment,” the district said in a statement on Friday afternoon.
“To this end, all members of the school community are expected to behave in an ethical and lawful manner that demonstrates respect for themselves, others, property and the environment.”
The 14-year-old victim, meanwhile, says she appreciates the support of friends and family and feels more confident that she will return to school in the near future, adding that she hopes more can be done to ensure her safety and her peers.
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