Investigators are likely to recommend felony battery charges against the aggressor, in the case of a 16-year-old Neillsville High School student who was badly beaten Tuesday in the school building. According to police reports, two 16-year-old boys got in a fight in a high school hallway after lunch on Tuesday afternoon.
One of the boys was beaten so badly, he had to be airlifted to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield. He’s now listed in “good” condition. Neillsville superintendent John Gaier says staff tried to break up the fight as quickly as possible. “Once staff was alerted, the hall monitors got to the spot. It did not last very long. Only one of the students threw a punch, from the investigation we’ve been hearing,” Gaier says.
The incident comes just months after another fight in March that sent a 15-year-old boy to the hospital. Gaier says it’s difficult to say if a trend is emerging. Police say the case will start as a juvenile matter, but could be waived to adult court, due to the severity of the victim’s injuries. School officials plan to wait until the investigation is complete before deciding if they’ll pursue any expulsions.
Paul Knoff, WCCN