School Board Investigates After Video Shows Boy With Special Needs Getting Attacked By Students

A video of a boy with down syndrome reportedly getting attacked by a group of high school students in Chicago surfaced on social media last week, leading to an investigation by school authorities into the incident, reports said.

York Community High School officials notified the parents Monday after the video of "an aggressive physical altercation by a student toward another student with a disability" appeared on social media on Dec. 8, Chicago Tribune reported.

The video reportedly shows the unidentified boy getting pushed by a group of high school students to a bathroom floor inside the school. During the altercation, a group of bystanders is seen laughing, Superintendent Keisha Campbell of Elmhurst School District 205 wrote in her email to parents Sunday, according to the outlet.

"We are deeply disappointed and saddened by the actions of this small group of students. Bullying, intimidation, and harassment diminish a student's ability to learn and a school's ability to educate. Such behaviors are not tolerated, and any student who chooses to engage in these behaviors will face the appropriate consequences," Campbell said in a statement.

Meanwhile, York High School Principal Shahe Bagdasarian said the school initiated the investigation as soon they received the report of the incident. "Immediately upon receiving this report, our school team began investigating. Parents were contacted and students were interviewed. Upon completion of the investigation by the school, appropriate consequences will be issued to those involved," Bagdasarian said.

However, Elmhurst police reportedly said there is more to the story than what is seen in the distressing video. The cops said they responded to the school last week after receiving a report of the altercation inside the boy's restroom. They believe that the five students, including one with special needs, willfully engaged in the fight. During the brawl, the student with special needs got pushed to the ground while other students watched, police said, as reported by CBS News.

Meanwhile, the boy's parents said they do not want a police investigation in the case.

According to reports, the student with special needs and two of the four other students who were involved in the fight were on the school wrestling team.