Two 16-year-old high school boys in Rhode Island have been arrested following the alleged assault of a special needs student in the boy's locker room at Rogers High School.
According to NBC 10, an investigation of the incident identified one 16-year-old boy as the culprit. He was placed into custody Friday and is being charged with two counts of felony assault severe impairments.
A second 16-year-old Rogers student was also arrested and charged with assault against the same victim.
Newport Public Schools superintendent Colleen Burns Jermaine released a statement Friday, saying the school had been made aware of a video "depicting unacceptable student behavior."
"It has been brought to our attention that before football games, there is somewhat of a practice that includes 'roughhousing' and players hitting each other. One of the players took this to an extreme level that is entirely unacceptable," she wrote. "Even more disturbing, the video we have seen shows other players not intervening, or bringing this matter to the attention of an adult."
After the football team met with the principle, coach and athletic director, it was decided that the football season was "ended as of today."
"This is a serious matter and there is no grey area when it comes to behavior like this. Those involved will face appropriate disciplinary actions in accordance with our district policies," Jermain added. "Back in the day, it may have been okay for some locker room 'roughhousing,' but today it is not, and our athletes need to understand as leaders, as athletes, and as representatives of our community, that this behavior will never be tolerated at Newport Public Schools."
Newport Police said that state law prohibits them from releasing any juvenile names, detailed arrest reports, or specific court information related to these matters.
