Family demands action after ‘brutal attack’ at Perry Meridian High School leaves student hospitalized

INDIANAPOLIS — The family of a student who was reportedly attacked last week by a fellow student at Perry Meridian High School is now demanding accountability from the school district.

The attack

A 15-year-old PMHS student was arrested last Thursday by school police officers after the “unprovoked and violent hallway attack.” In a statement sent Monday, attorneys hired by the victim’s family said they are calling for immediate reforms within Perry Township Schools.

“We trusted the school to keep our son safe, and that trust has been completely shattered,” the family said. “How can parents have any faith in a system that allows repeated bullying and violence to continue unchecked? Our child went to school safe and whole and was returned to us with lifelong and permanent injuries.”

Attorneys for the family said the student who was attacked had been a victim of ongoing bullying at the school.

The student reportedly suffered severe head and facial injuries and had to be taken to the hospital by ambulance for his injuries — which lawyers said require long-term and possibly lifelong treatment. A photo of the student, edited for graphic content, can be seen below:

“As a father, nothing can prepare you for the devastation of seeing your child in a hospital bed, battered and broken,” the victim’s dad said. “The sight of his injuries — his face swollen, his cheek slashed through, his head bandaged — is something no parent should ever have to endure. The physical pain he’s in is only the beginning.”

Police officials said last week that the student suspect was arrested for the battery “within seconds” of the attack breaking out. With their son suffering serious injuries and psychological damage, the family argues the response was not enough.

“As he lay unconscious, students took pictures of his unconscious and bleeding body and posted these pictures on social media,” the lawyers said.

Family’s demands

The family of the victim said in a statement Monday they feel the lack of action and accountability from PMHS is unacceptable.

“Our client’s son was not just a victim of an unprovoked and brutal assault — he is also a victim of the school’s failure to protect him,” said Catherine Michael, attorney for the family.

Now, the family and their legal team are calling for “immediate reforms” within Perry Township Schools. Their requests include:

• Implementing a stricter anti-bullying policy,
• Training staff to better address violence, and
• Increasing levels of staff supervision throughout the school.

The family is now encouraging any other students or families with similar experiences to speak out.

“This is not just about our son, but about ensuring that no other family has to experience this
type of trauma and pain,” said the student’s family in a statement. “This school failed to protect
our son, and they must be held accountable.”

The family’s legal team said they are currently exploring all legal options and will “continue to seek justice for their son.” They said they are committed to making meaningful changes to ensure safety in Indianapolis public schools.

“Every child is entitled to a safe learning environment. Schools have a legal and moral obligation to protect their students, and that obligation is non-negotiable,” said attorney Tammy Meyer. “What happened here is unconscionable. When your students are being hauled off from school in an ambulance, it’s a little late at that point, but it’s got to change.”

School response

In a statement sent last Friday, Perry Township officials addressed the attack and subsequent student arrest.

“We are disturbed by the assault of a Perry Meridian High School student by a fellow student. No student, or person, should be subjected to violence,” the school district said. “Although we cannot disclose details, we can say that any student who commits violent acts will be disciplined to the fullest extent as outlined in our Student Success Handbook.”

FOX59/CBS4 has reached out to Perry Township officials after the lawyers’ statements on Monday and has not yet heard a response.

Other incidents at PMHS

This is not the first time that Perry Meridian High School has been in the news for violence and student incidents in the last year.

Earlier this month, a 16-year-old PMHS student was arrested for making violent threats against the school. While not much information has been released, it has been confirmed that the student now faces felony charges.

In February, a 16-year-old student at PMHS was arrested for reportedly attacking a substitute teacher and repeatedly hitting him in the face with a laptop. The student has since been charged with battery and criminal recklessness in juvenile court. For more information, click here .

After a series of incidents in 2023, the school added weapons detection systems to select buildings in December of last year. For more information on that story, click here .

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 59.