SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY, Va (WRIC) — A 15-year-old Spotsylvania High School football player was arrested Friday as the result of an apparent hazing attack.
“I was pretty surprised. You don’t hear about any of that stuff happening from Spotsy. It’s just a small town, you don’t really expect that kind of thing. It’s kinda crazy,” said Lindsey Smith, a recent Spotsylvania HS graduate.
Investigators from the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office say it happened on October 23rd. Older football players hazed and assaulted two younger players— 14 and 15-years-old– in the high schools’ locker room.
“Hazing is a thing, but parameters need to be laid out by the coach…or the seniors need to be given leadership training,” said parent Andi Sip.
Deputies say at first the victims didn’t want to come forward, but eventually confirmed the attacks. One suspect, a 15-year-old, was arrested and charged with attempted sodomy with an inanimate object— a felony, and assault by mob– a misdemeanor.
“That’s a whole different degree,” said Smith.
“Where was the adult in the locker room?” said Sipp.
In a statement, Sheriff Roger L. Harris said the incident was a serious matter and “Schools should be a safe haven for our kids and we will continue to thoroughly investigate this matter”.
“I can’t even put myself in their shoes. I can’t put myself in the shoes of the child that was assaulted or the parent of the children that did this,” said Sipp.
Officials believe more students were involved in the attacks, and are interviewing several people.
