LONG BEACH, Calif. – A teenage boy is recovering after he was brutally attacked by a group of boys or young men on his way home from Long Beach Polytechnic High School on Wednesday, May 15.
His mother, Rasheen McCord is worried for her son’s safety as well as his peers. McCord says her son is black and a special-education student at the high school.
He was walking home along 16th Street and Long Beach Boulevard when teenagers asked him where he was from. This is something gang members often ask people as a challenge.
“They asked my son where he’s from. My son’s like nowhere, but before he could fully get it out, it’s like we’re going to attack him anyway,” said McCord.
When asked if these types of violent acts happen often in Long Beach, McCord says it does, but there’s an unwritten rule on the streets which threatens people who “snitch.”
“After my son’s situation, I heard about the other young black males who were getting jumped. Then it was brought to my attention and is this a racial thing that’s happening,” said McCord.
The Long Beach Police Department says it has received only one report of a similar attack in recent weeks, but encourages residents to report these crimes.
Afraid violence will continue to occur, McCord and other Long Beach parents organized patrols before and after school to ensure that students are safe.
“Our kids are afraid. They have fear and we don’t want them to have fear. We just want them to come and get an education,” said Idalia Sims, a concerned parent and graduate of Long Beach Polytechnic High School.
Sims says she didn’t know McCord before her son’s attack, but hearing about his situation inspired her to help out. Together, their group has walked kids to school, walked kids home and in some cases even paid for rideshare drivers to take them home safely.
McCord’s son has returned to school, but she says he’s still healing from the attack.
“Bruises on his forehead, his eardrums were torn because of the fight. It was torn a little which caused it to bleed out. The doctor said it’s going to heal on its own,” said McCord.
The Long Beach Unified School District issued the following statement regarding the incident:
We do not have confirmation that students have perpetrated the off-campus fighting. The school district cannot comment on potential off-campus crimes, but we work closely with law enforcement every day to ensure the safety of students. Our School Safety officers and local police are coordinating patrols in the area before and after school.
McCord and other parents are hoping school leaders and law enforcement will take action after the investigation is completed. They’re also calling on other parents to join their movement to protect students.