Lauren Hernandez

Statesman Journal

Three Salem high school students are facing assault charges after a lunchtime fight sent a student to the hospital.

A verbal altercation among 16-year-old students grew into an assault involving roughly four male teenagers punching and kicking one male student into unconsciousness at Bush's Pasture Park on Monday, Sept. 18, according to Salem Police.

Three students have been arrested on assault and disorderly conduct charges, said Lt. Dave Okada of Salem Police. Okada said police are trying to contact a fourth student who may have been involved in the assault.

The Statesman Journal reviewed a video believed to be of the assault. The video, which also was provided to law enforcement, shows close to a dozen students arguing and surrounding the victim when a male student lunges and punches him in the head.

The pair exchange blows and jostles over wet concrete until the victim is thrown onto a grass field. Roughly four boys repeatedly punch and kick the victim in his head, stomach and back.

"You can't kill him!" screams one student watching the assault.

The victim laid motionless in the grass for nearly a minute while the students punched and kicked his body.

"You're going to hurt him pretty ... badly," said one student watching the assault.

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The students didn't stop punching and kicking until one student noticed the victim had lost consciousness.

"He's out," said one boy, prompting three of the students to walk away from the victim.

One male student, however, continued stomping on the victim's head until another student pulled him away.

"He ... deserved it," one student yelled.

The video shows the suspects and students who watched the fight collecting their backpacks and walking away from the scene while the victim laid motionless in the grass.

Okada said the victim was taken to the hospital with serious, but not life-threatening injuries. He was later released.

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All of the students involved are believed to be 16 years old, with the exception of one student who may be 17 years old, Okada said.

What triggered the fight is unknown.

Okada said the three students were arrested and turned over to the Marion County Juvenile Department.

One of the students has been released, according to Chuck Sybrandt, the juvenile department's acting director. The court granted the student conditional release upon reaching a safety plan agreement that focuses on keeping the victim and community safe.

The two other students will remain in juvenile detention until they reach safety plans of their own. Sybrandt said probation officers will meet with the students to determine the best safety plan before granting release.

The Statesman Journal typically does not identify juvenile defendants.

Lillian Govus, director of communications for Salem-Keizer Public Schools, said the incident is the first assault related to South Salem High School this academic school year.

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Govus said there will be disciplinary actions for the students involved in the assault, but would not specify what punishments might be considered.

"As a district, we can't speak about individual disciplinary actions, but we can assure the community we will follow the student discipline policy we use as a guideline," Govus said.

Govus would not confirm whether the victim had returned to class since the assault, but said the district will identify any resources needed to make him feel comfortable at school, which may include counseling or pairing him with a mentor.

South Salem High School parents were not informed of the assault.

This story is developing and will be updated with information as it becomes available.