A group of teens and a 52-year-old father have been charged in connection with a brutal fight in Oak Ridges, Ont. that was recorded and circulated on social media.
According to York Regional Police, a group of students gathered at Briar Nine Park at around 3 p.m. on Dec. 2 to watch a fight between a student from Cardinal Carter Catholic High School and a student from St. Theresa Lisieux Catholic High School.
For unknown reasons, the father of one of the students attended the park and got into an argument with another student. At some point, police said the argument escalated and the student was assaulted.
A short time later, a group of teens then attacked the father, causing him serious injuries.
It’s unclear what high school the man’s child attends.
In one of the videos circulating on Twitter, two male students are seen throwing punches at each other in a grassy area. A few seconds into the video, a man steps into the frame, approaches a student standing in the background and throws a punch.
In a second video posted on social media, a large group of teens start violently attacking the same man.
The father is seen bleeding from his head and face as the teens punch and kick him repeatedly until he falls to the ground.
In a news release issued Monday, police said that a 15-year-old boy, two 16-year-old boys and an 18-year-old male, all of Richmond Hill, have each been charged with one count of assault causing bodily harm. The teens cannot be identified due to the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
A 52-year-old man was also charged with one count of assault.
Investigators tell CTV News Toronto that the teens charged in the case are not related to the man.
All involved were released on a promise to appear in court in January.
Police are still looking to speak with witnesses to the fight or anyone who know what led up to the incident and urge anyone with information to call them at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7241 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
