4 high schoolers accused of attacking teen at Mesa park; it was all caught on camera

MESA, AZ (3TV/CBS 5) -- Mesa police say four high schoolers are accused of beating another teen, which was all caught on camera. The attack happened at Mountain View Park, near Lindsay and Brown roads, in June. The video made the rounds on Snapchat.

Mesa police started their investigation on Aug. 11 after a parent of a Mountain View High School student told a school resource officer at Westwood High School that there had been a video showing the attack. Shortly after, police identified the 17-year-old victim and spoke to him and his mother, Leah Kirk. The teen told police he had not reported it for fear of being targeted again. “I have been told by almost everyone that they don’t know how my son is still alive,” Kirk said. “After seeing the video, I don’t know how.”

Kirk told authorities that she wanted to press charges. “My son could have been dead if it was anybody else,” Kirk said. “I think my son can handle a lot more than a lot of people.”

The suspects were later identified. Police confirm two of them are football players at Red Mountain High School. Red Mountain High sent a statement to Arizona’s Family, which reads in part: “The two student-athletes on the Red Mountain football team charged are currently being addressed appropriately by the Mesa Public Schools administration per the Mesa Public Schools athletic code of conduct.”

Police say the two other students were found and are attending different high schools, but it’s unknown which ones. “They need to go to jail. They should not be able to play sports, period,” said Kirk.

Her son is recovering but is still traumatized from the attack. “He seems like he is OK. He hasn’t been the same,” Kirk said. One suspect, identified as a 16-year-old, is facing aggravated assault charges. The other three, two 16-year-olds and a 17-year-old, face assault charges. No names will be released because they are under 18 years old.

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