A teenager was left unconscious and another significantly injured in a vicious altercation near SLAM! Miami Charter School, as confirmed by Miami police and recounted by the victims. Christopher Lopez, a 15-year-old student from the school, suffered several blows to the head in the attack that unfolded last Thursday afternoon. "They were pretty painful, like around here,” Lopez said, touching his bruised forehead in an interview with WSVN. “They really wanted me dead."
Disturbing footage of the incident has circulated on social media, showing Lopez and his friend being brutally attacked. Authorities transported the injured students to Jackson Memorial Hospital, where Lopez was told he had suffered a concussion. Despite not fully remembering the ordeal, Lopez recounted the moments leading up to the attack, where confusion reigned as he incorrectly identified himself as a target. "When I saw them coming to me, they were saying another name that wasn’t mine, or my friend that got jumped, too," Lopez said, "We were confused. We turned back, and I asked my own friend, like, ‘Are they coming for us?’ He shook his head, he’s like, ‘Yeah.’" Lopez told WSVN.
The Miami Police are actively seeking information on the students involved in the brutal assault that took place just blocks from SLAM! Miami Charter School. The attackers are still at large, and anyone with pertinent information is urged to contact the City of Miami Police. In the aftermath of the fight, SLAM! Miami Administration has issued a statement to WSVN, stressing that any student found to have engaged in violence will "face serious consequences" as the school maintains its position on keeping the institution and its environs safe.
Lopez's mother, speaking with NBC6, voiced her anguish and call for justice after the attack. "By God’s grace, my son is alive," she said in an interview with NBC6, detailing how her son was left practically for dead. To compound the community's concern, there were rumors of a shooting at the school following the altercation, quickly dispelled by the school administration who reassured parents. Following the violent episode and feeling unsafe, Lopez's family stated that he will not be returning to SLAM!
In response to the violence, fellow students have shown solidarity, with one telling WSVN, "What I saw was really messed up. I don’t think you should do that to kids. The kids that kicked him should face charges." Miami police are still urging the public to come forward with any information to help catch those responsible for the crime.
