Warning! This video is hard to watch.
“…this incident is not considered a hate motivated crime…,” Edmonton Police Chief, Dale McFee, in the middle of the investigation.
They sprayed him with the N-word and monkey chants as they gang up against him, squeezing his neck in an unbreakable chokehold for minutes.
Pazo, a 14 year old Edmonton School boy stayed away from classes at Rosslyn School in Edmonton for fear of threats made by a group of boys, some in his class and others not.
It got worst when he reported a knife threat to kill him from one of the boys in the group and the boy was suspended. He stayed out of school for days, hoping that everything will cool down but when he finally went back he was beaten to hospital.
The chokehold on his neck for minutes by the boys filled with racial slurs caused him severe problems, including blood clots in his stomach. His mom said the doctor at Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton asked to take him to the University of Alberta Hospital in Edmonton due to the blood clots.
As such, after a day at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, she was sent to the University of Alberta Hospital due to the severity of his injuries. He can’t eat and breathe freely he said in the video.
This incident took place on April 16, 2021, at about 3:10 PM in a field on his way home from school when the group of seven boys tracked him down after getting off the bus. They sure acted on their threats as they tackled him down and beat him up to unconsciousness. One of the boys took the video and shared on Instagram.
A group of community leaders gathered at the Clareview Police Station from 11AM to about 3:30 PM on April 23, 2021, to demand action from the Edmonton Police Service (EPS).
A police officer came out to talk to the community leaders. He gave constant updates as he shuttled between the community members waiting outside and the EPS office inside so as to get information for the community on the case. He updated that the Edmonton Police Service is investigating the matter. He gave the case number to the community as they wait for detectives from the Northwest Division investigating the case to get to the Clareview Division to record Pazo’s statement with his mom by his side.
Juluane Kanyana, the mom of the 14 year old boy says he can’t eat, sleep, and keep getting nightmares as he struggles to remember what happened.
The Black community in Edmonton is calling for justice from the school and the police – the message from the community leaders present.
Other community leaders present shared similar stories to stress that this is not an isolated incident and need to be dealt with before such brutal boys develop into societal misfits.
On a phone conversation with Tammy Tchir, the principal of Rosslyn School, told Diversity Magazine that as a mother she feels the pain and is doing everything within her power as an administrator to act on the situation. She added that she’s open to meeting with the community to share suggestions but can’t share specific information about the incident due to privacy concerns.
Tammy however pointed at the statement by the Superintendent Darrel Robertson, who calls the incident an altercation.
“On Friday, April 16, there was an altercation involving a few Rosslyn students, as well as individuals who do not attend the school, where a student was attacked.
What happened outside of Rosslyn School last week is unacceptable, deeply disturbing and is of immense concern to Edmonton Public Schools. The school is working with the Edmonton Police Service as they investigate.
We know that an incident of this nature will be greatly concerning, upsetting and triggering for our families.
“…this incident is not considered a hate motivated crime…,” Edmonton Police Chief, Dale McFee, in the middle of the investigation.
All student conduct is subject to the Education Act, Administrative Regulation on Student Suspension and Expulsion and Student Suspension and Expulsion Board Policy where potential consequences to any findings of misconduct could include:
- suspension
- expulsion from school-sponsored activities
- expulsion from a school
- conflict resolution, mediation or interventions
The Division is bound by privacy legislation and cannot provide information about who may have been involved or any potential related consequences.
The words and actions of individuals can be extremely hurtful. There is no place for these kinds of actions or language in our schools or community. We must continue to work together as a community and as a school Division towards the elimination of systemic racism and violence. While our Division is taking steps and working with the community around the elimination of racism in our schools, it’s clear that we have much work to do,” Edmonton Public School Superintendent, Darrel Robertson.
Police continue to investigate assault at local school
“The Edmonton Police Service continues to actively investigate an assault involving a group of male youths outside of a school earlier this month.
On Friday, April 16, 2021, a 14-year-old male youth and a family member reportedly attended EPS Northeast Division station to report an assault that took place outside of a school in the area of 132 Avenue and 113A Street. It was reported to police that earlier that afternoon the complainant was leaving school and walking to a nearby bus stop when he was approached by a group of male youths and assaulted.
Northeast Division front counter officers advised the complainant and his family member to first go to the nearest medical centre to seek assistance with the youth’s injuries and then call police to have an officer dispatched to their location. The EPS complaint line was then contacted regarding the incident on Monday, April 19, 2021, at which time an officer was dispatched, and an investigation was initiated.
Investigators are aware of the video circulating online and continue to work closely with school administration to investigate this violent assault. Detectives have since determined that the males involved in this incident knew one another and this was not a random occurrence. It has also been reported to police that altercations have taken place between the individual youths in this group before. At this time, evidence obtained by investigators shows this event began as a schoolyard fight and was part of an ongoing conflict between a group of male youths that reportedly started late last year. In addition, many of the youths involved are confirmed to have faced significant trauma over the course of their lives, and many also represent racialized communities, which adds to the complexity of the investigation.
The EPS Hate Crimes & Violent Extremism Unit was consulted on this investigation and, at this time, this incident is not considered a hate motivated crime. While a highly inappropriate racial slur was used during this incident, investigators have conducted multiple interviews with the parties involved and do not have sufficient evidence to support that the event was motivated by hate, bias or prejudice. As a result, this incident does not currently meet the threshold for a hate motivated crime as per the requirements of the Canadian Criminal Code. We recognize that regardless of meeting this threshold, inappropriate and hateful language has an extremely negative impact on the individuals involved, the broader community and the city as a whole and it should not be tolerated.
‘This violent assault involving multiple youths has no place in our community and the outpouring of support for the complainant from citizens reaffirms that we are all committed to building a community that is safer for everyone,’ says EPS Chief Dale McFee.
Unfortunately, the significant public involvement in this incident has presented investigative challenges and has resulted in some of the youths receiving threats, leaving them afraid to speak or leave their homes.
We understand that everyone is tired and tensions are high, but as adults and leaders in this community, we need to pause and think before further enflaming this situation for all of the youth involved.
With this in mind, we are kindly asking the community for patience and calm while our investigators complete their work.
Investigators continue to examine the circumstances of this violent assault and are working diligently to determine an appropriate course of action for the youths involved. An update will be provided when more information becomes available.
EPS Crime and Trauma-informed Support Services has reached out to the complainant and his family”.
14 Years Old Boy Beaten to Hospital
Black Community in Edmonton, Alberta calls for Justice for Pazo
14 Years Old Boy Beaten to Hospital
Community leaders speak to officer who came out to help the community with information on the case of the 14 years old school boy beaten to hospital, Pazo.
