CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. – Five teenage boys are facing felony charges after police said they were caught on camera jumping a victim and body-slamming him in a Coral Springs parking lot used by students at Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Tuesday.
Four of those students were in custody Friday, police said.
Police told Local 10 News that the male student sustained a skull fracture during the incident and was being treated at a local hospital.
According to arrest warrants, the victim had been in a fight with at least some of the alleged attackers earlier in the week and, because of that, had requested a friend walk with him to the parking lot.
Authorities said the following suspects were charged with felony battery, “reflecting the serious nature of their actions.”
- Jahmeer Beauziel, 17, of Coral Springs
- Caleb Hensley, 17, of Parkland
- Sylvester Hicks Jr., 16, of Coral Springs
- Chinua Leefatt, 15, of Coral Springs
- Jordan Thompson, 16, of Coral Springs
According to Coral Springs police, all of the charged attackers attend MSD, save for Leefatt, who attends Coral Glades High School.
Staff at both schools identified the teen suspects to police after reviewing the videos.
All except Beauziel were in custody as of Friday morning, police said.
“The safety of our community and schools remains our top priority,” police said, in part, in a news release. “This continues to be an ongoing investigation where additional arrests may be forthcoming. We want to assure the public that such behavior will not be tolerated(.)”
Police said two officers were patrolling the area when the attack occurred.
The victim is now recovering at home.
MSD Principal Michelle Kefford released a statement to the families of the students who attend the school on Friday, which you can read here:
Broward County School Board Chair Lori Alhadeff also released a statement Friday on the incident which you can read below.
“This incident is deeply upsetting, and we’re thankful that the injured student is recovering. Our thoughts are with him, his family and all of the families that have been impacted. We’re thankful to the Coral Springs Police Department and the school administration for quickly collaborating to identify the five students. Their arrests serve as a crucial lesson about the severe consequences that can come of one’s actions.”