The Royal Canadian Mounted Police say approximately 30 youths surrounded a 13-year-old girl while others attacked her. The incident reportedly occurred at a beachfront park on September 27. The disturbing video quickly circulated on social media. Now the girl’s family wonders why no one jumped in to help her.
Her father, identified only as Donovan to protect his daughter’s identity, wants the alleged assailants criminally charged. He told CTV the young girl may never feel safe again.
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A friend reportedly lured the teen to the park.
Her father said his daughter, who is in her first year of high school, went to Gyro Beach in Kelowna, British Columbia, at a friend’s behest. He said the video disturbed him.
“I watched two minutes of my daughter getting near beat to death, like 20 or 30 kids who just decided that it was better for them to record it and laugh at her,” he told CTV.
After someone allegedly threw his daughter to the ground and began to beat her, others threw sand and dirt on her as she lay on the ground not moving, CBC reported.
Dozens apparently watched and did nothing to help the teen girl.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police Sergeant Laura Pollock announced in a news conference that police arrested three individuals under the age of 18, according to CTV.
“No one has been charged yet. We’re in the early stages of the investigation,” Pollock said. “Our general investigative support team continues to investigate, including making any outstanding arrests.”
Pollock thanked two unnamed individuals for stepping in and calling police. She urged the public not to watch or circulate the video any further.
“I know from my work with victims that have been exploited through imagery and continuous circulation of video and photos when they are a victim of crime that it has profound and lasting impacts,” she explained. “The video is degrading and an attempt to humiliate.”
Donovan says his daughter is continuing to heal.
He told CTV that although she suffered bruised ribs and a concussion, the physical injuries would heal. He’s more concerned about his daughter’s mental well-being.
“Physically, she’s got a lot of healing to do,” he said. “Mentally, she started therapy, and I don’t know how long that’s ever going to take for her to trust or want to be outside again.”
School officials worry about the aftereffects of this type of attack.
Kevin Kaardal, superintendent of the Central Okanagan School District, told CBC that even though the attack didn’t happen on school property, it could lead to trouble.
“Our goal is about supporting the victim and those traumatized around it. And then finding ways to support and have those engaged in the violence educated, but also understanding the severity of the actions they have taken and providing other alternatives for the future,” he said.
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The father wants a stiff punishment for those involved.
He told CTV he wants those responsible facing criminal charges, and he implored anyone with information to contact police. “How many messages do we need to send and say this also happened to my daughter before something gets done?” He asked. “It’s ridiculous.”
Police echoed Donovan’s statement and asked anyone with information to contact authorities.
