Boston police are investigating a reported assault on a student that allegedly took place about a block from the James F. Condon School in South Boston, according to a police report.
The victim contacted police on Thursday, March 7, at around 5:30 p.m. She said the incident had happened roughly two and a half hours earlier, shortly before 3 p.m., in the area of 280 West Broadway. Police are looking into the matter as an alleged assault and battery.
The girl told officers that a fellow student yelled at her to do the "right thing" before punching and kicking her. She said the student also called her a snitch and a liar, pulled her hair and threw her to the ground. She gave police the name of the suspect. The report was redacted in places because the people involved are juveniles.
According to the report, an unknown boy stood nearby and began recording the fight but did not step in. The victim had a minor injury on her cheek, along with slight redness and scratches around her face. She also gave police the names of other possible suspects.
NBC10 Boston reported that a recording of the fight was posted to social media. The station also reported that the victim's mother said her daughter had told a school staff member, days before the fight, that the suspect was bullying another student.
NBC added that teachers found an Instagram account dedicated to fights at Condon School on Friday and helped have it removed from the platform right away. A Boston Public Schools spokesperson confirmed this and shared a statement from Superintendent Mary Skipper about both the account and the alleged assault.
"The safety and well-being of our young people is our highest priority and violence of any kind is unacceptable," the statement said. It added that Instagram moderators took the account down immediately after BPS reported it. The district said the incident happened away from school property and after hours, and that it has been addressed in line with BPS policy. Officials said they are working directly with the student involved and the family to provide support.
The statement also said the district is working continuously to create a safe, welcoming environment, and it encouraged students, parents and community members to report any incidents to BPS or Boston Police.
City Councilor Ed Flynn, whose district includes the Condon School, issued his own statement on Wednesday afternoon. "It is alarming to learn about the fight between students at the Condon, and the Instagram account sharing these fights," he said. Flynn called for student safety to be prioritized, for school counseling resources to be expanded, and for BPS to put anti-bullying initiatives and social media usage policies in place.
