JC boys in viral video to face disciplinary committee; school says victim stole items from attackers

The administration at Jamaica College says all the students involved in an altercation captured on a viral video, including the boy who was assaulted, will face its disciplinary committee for appropriate action.

The school's administration gave the update in a release to the media in which it said the boy seen being slapped in the video had taken items which did not belong to him and the altercation occurred after he failed to return them.

Chairman, Lance Hylton, who issued the statement, said the primary persons involved were interviewed on Monday in the presence of their parents, and signed statements secured.

The statement said the student seen in the video being physically assaulted admitted in writing that about two weeks ago, he “took” certain items that did not belong to him, from a group of boys with whom he was socialising. These included a jacket, a pair of glasses and a sum of money.

JC's statement said when initially questioned about the missing items, the boy denied any involvement, before later acknowledging his actions and committing to returning the items in question.

In the days that followed, he returned a portion of the money and some of the items but failed to make full restitution and missed several agreed deadlines to do so, the statement from the school further said.

The aggrieved students subsequently confronted him on school grounds and demanded the outstanding balance. The school says that's when the physical altercation captured in the video occurred.

"The school regards the behaviour depicted as reprehensible and unacceptable and we condemn it in the strongest possible terms," the school said.

"Jamaica College remains fully and unequivocally committed to the safety and well-being of every student in our care, to fair and thorough investigation of all incidents, and to the upholding of due process, accountability, and justice," it added.

Acting Senior Superintendent Mark Harris, commanding officer for the St Andrew Central police, confirmed on Monday that the parents of the boy who was attacked have not yet filed a complaint.

However, Harris said the police have intervened and are “making progress in the matter, hoping that everybody cooperates.”

“He’s not yet arrested, but we are doing some intervention at the school,” Harris told The Gleaner on Monday.

Follow The Gleaner on X and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.