CORNER BROOK, N.L. — An incident involving a group of girls from Corner Brook Intermediate on Monday has the school, the school board, the RNC and the business where it happened all working together to try to prevent the same thing from happening again.
The Valley Mall in Corner Brook is a popular hangout for junior high students during their lunch break, with many of them hanging out in one of the lesser-used parking garages.
In a disturbing video circulating on Facebook, two girls are seen exchanging words in the parking garage. They’re surrounded by other students, many with their cellphones out recording what’s happening.
A few hands come out from the group to push at one of the girls. At one point she is pushed from behind toward the group.
More pushing occurs on both sides and the girl ends up in an altercation with one of the girls who had been standing in the group. As they punch and hit at each other, more girls jump in and it becomes an attack of five or six on one.
The girl ends up on the ground and the video shows the others punching and kicking her. One of the attackers stomps on her head twice.
Const. James Cadigan, the RNC’s media relations officer in St. John’s, said the RNC became aware of the incident on Tuesday and agrees the contents of the video are disturbing.
“Investigators with our criminal investigation unit in Corner Brook are in possession of that video and have initiated an investigation in the matter,” Cadigan said.
As a result of the incident, the RNC will increase its patrols around the mall at peak hours and will make other passthroughs throughout the day. “Certainly, monitoring as to whether there is any large gatherings,” Cadigan said.
He said the RNC has an open line of communication with the school and will continue to work to prevent any further incidents.
That’s something the Newfoundland and Labrador English School District (NLESD) also hopes to accomplish.
“The deplorable images of violence purported to be from this incident, which were shared on social media, are very disturbing,” said an emailed statement from the school district.
The statement didn’t name the school or where the incident occurred.
“School staff are working with the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary and the families of students involved to investigate the incident and determine next steps. Staff are also working with the management of local establishments on efforts to increase safety measures for the community.”
The statement also said the school, with district support, will work with the police and community partners to take a restorative justice approach to building understanding among their students and community.
Tammy Joyce, the manager of the Valley Mall, said the mall has put extra security in place during lunch hours to cover the entire property, inside and out.
“We are working together with the RNC and Corner Brook Intermediate school to try and prevent this kind of occurrence from happening again in the future,” Joyce said.