2 Arrested In Violent Assault At Moreno Valley School Which Left Student Critically Wounded

MORENO VALLEY (CBSLA) — Two male students have been arrested for a fight Monday at a middle school in Moreno Valley which left a third student in critical condition.

Cell phone video of Monday's assault showed two boys punching the victim, a 13-year-old boy, at Landmark Middle School, located at 15261 Legendary Dr.

The video showed the victim being punched in the face by a boy in a black t-shirt outside the school's main building. As he stumbles, he appears to be hit from the left by a second boy. Then, as he falls to the ground, he hits his head on a concrete pillar.

According to students who witnessed the fight, the student was foaming at the mouth and may have suffered a seizure. Witnesses said CPR was performed on him before he was rushed to a hospital.

The Riverside County Sheriff's Department Tuesday reported that he remained hospitalized in critical condition. He was not identified.

"My daughter saw everything, everything happened when she was going to her classroom, so she was afraid," parent Jose Rios told CBS2 Tuesday.

On Monday night, two students were arrested and booked into Riverside County Juvenile Hall on one count each of assault likely to produce great bodily injury, the sheriff's department said.

The school had counselors and extra deputies on hand Tuesday. However, some parents told CBS2 the school has a history of violence and believe it needs more permanent security.

This past March, another violent attack on the campus resulted in 19 students being treated for exposure to pepper spray after campus security guards were called in to break up a fight that allegedly began after one girl attacked another girl from behind, and the fight grew into a swarm.

"The riot last year should have been a wake up," Patrick McHugh, a concerned parent, said. "At what point is the line going to be drawn?"

McHugh has a sixth grade student at the school and said he went to the office Tuesday morning demanding answers about who was supposed to be monitoring the students in the halls during the passing periods when the was attacked. He said the school told him that staff was "too busy to talk."

"There has to be more consequences on whoever gets involved in the fighting that's going on," grandparent Teresa Cortez told CBS2. "There has to be more security around the school so they can protect all the kids."

The Moreno Valley Unified School District issued the following statement Tuesday morning to CBS2:

"At this time, the Riverside County Sheriff's department has the latest information and is making official statements. Please refer questions about the investigation or student's condition to the Sheriff Department. As soon as we are able, we will provide further information.

"In regards to the school, we are gathering the staff together to address any questions or concerns before school starts. The situation is still under investigation, but we would like to be prepared to support the staff in any way that we can.

"We will also be communicating with parents once we have more information."