An beating of a 14-year-old Black boy in a north Edmonton schoolyard has been determined not to be a hate crime, Police Chief Dale McFee said Thursday.
The April 16 attack outside Rosslyn School was caught on video that circulated widely in the community.
Edmonton Police Chief Dale McFee updated the media on Thursday about the attack on a Black student outside Rosslyn School on April 16. (Edmonton Police Service)
The Grade 8 student, who CBC News is only identifying by the name Pazo, was swarmed by seven other boys who are seen punching and kicking him. Someone was heard calling him the N-word during the attack.
McFee said the slur was highly inappropriate but in itself did not constitute a hate crime.
McFee said some of the students come from racialized communities and have received threats. He called for calm and called out social media posts he said have inflamed the situation.
It has also created a form to send messages of support to Pazo and his family. Just to show the support and to show that he s not alone in this and that the community supports him, Touko said. He said several people have also come together to raise funds to support the family.
A GoFundMe has brought in more than $25,000 to help cover a variety of expenses, including legal and long-term psychological needs.
Accountability needed, mayor says
Mayor Don Iveson said during a news availability Monday that the attack demonstrates that more work needs to be done to combat racism.