3 Howell students charged as adults for pretending to befriend a new student and beating him at skatepark

HOWELL, Mich. – Three students from Howell Public Schools are accused as adults after pretending to befriend a new student so they can lure him into a skatepark and beat him up while recording him for social media, officials say.

The alleged assault happened on August 31 at the Howell Skatepark, which is right next to Howell High School, according to the Livingston County Attorney’s Office.

Officials said the three students acted as if they were befriending the new student, a 16-year-old boy with autism, spending time with him at lunch and at school. They encouraged him to go to the skatepark with them after school and led him to the back of the washroom, out of sight of buses and the freshman campus, authorities said.

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When out of sight, two of the students pushed the victim to the ground, punched and kicked him, officials said. The third student recorded the attack and posted it on social media, court records show.

“He’s disappointed because he thought these kids were his friends,” the victim’s mother told Local 4 earlier this month.

“The investigation revealed that this attack was not caused by the victim and was planned by the defendants,” said a statement from the Livingston County District Attorney’s Office.

Authorities said the victim suffered a concussion and some bruising.

“I believe these boys deserve a consequence for what they have done, but I don’t want it to ruin their lives,” the victim’s mother said. “I want it to be a stepping stone for them to say, ‘You know what, I want to be better. I want to be a better person.

Prosecutors charged the three students with assault with intent to commit grievous bodily harm, which is a felony punishable by up to 10 years in the Michigan Department of Corrections. The charge is considered a “minor specified offense” and a person between the ages of 14 and 16 can be charged as an adult offender, officials said. If found guilty, minors can be sentenced in the same way as an adult.

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The names of the three students are withheld pending their appearance before the 53rd District Court, authorities said.

Anyone with further information on the incident is asked to call Howell Police at 517-546-1330.

Here is Victor Williams’ report from September 9: