Gang Of 11 Brutally Assault, Break Facial Bones Of Young Honor Student

[Danno 1,228]

From my home State of NJ comes this holiday cheer.

Gang Of 11 Brutally Assault, Break Facial Bones Of Young Honor Student Over What Was Apparent Misunderstanding

David Muneton, an eighth grade honor student, needed reconstructive facial surgery after being savagely beaten by a gang of 11 students on Dec. 18, 2009, in Engelwood, N.J.

Police said as many as 11 students beat up an eighth-grader honor student in an apparent case of revenge. The victim, who is Hispanic, suffered severe injuries, and it was possible he may lose sight in one eye. It is not believed, however, that he was the victim of a hate crime. Police said the student who threw the first punch was also Hispanic, and the other students all come from diverse backgrounds.

The incident, which occurred near the Janis Dismus Middle School school soccer field, was so violent that 13-year-old David Muneton needed reconstructive surgery to his face to correct several broken bones.

His friends at the Janis Dismus Middle School in Englewood are stunned.

"It's so hard. … I'm his best friend," Denise Melendez said before breaking down in tears.

Police have arrested seven students from both the middle school and high school, charging them with aggravated assault. The youngest one is just 12 years old.

Investigators said the teenagers jumped Muneton on Friday as he walked home from school to get back at him for an earlier incident during which the eighth-grader accidentally hit a girl with a basketball.

The superintendent said the girl, who has also been charged, led the boys to Muneton, saying "He's the one."

"We do know that after the girl made the comment one of the people, the boys, who was with him immediately punched him," Superintendent Dr. Richard Segall said.

Students at the middle school have made a get well card for the 13-year-old -- all of them outraged over what happened.

"He really didn't deserve to get beat up like that because he really didn't do anything and it wasn't intentional that he hit her with a ball," student Michael Bailey said.

"If I was there Ii would have told someone," student Emanuel Doughtery added.

"I wrote I hope he gets better soon," said student Katherine Saldarriga.

Muneton was recovering at Englewood Hospital and sent home on Wednesday. His brother told CBS 2 HD his condition is improving. The assistant principal said the youngster is a model student.

"He is a wonderful young man, actually one of our students who made the honor roll this quarter," Daniella Bailey said.

As these kids try to make sense of what happened all seven students arrested have been suspended. This coming as police was looking to charge four more teenagers.

Three of the students charged remain at the juvenile detention center in Paramus, while the rest have been released to their parents -- two of them required to wear ankle bracelets.

Edited December 24, 2009 by Danno

[Justine+David 218]

This is so awful. Reminds me of the case where some teenagers burned one of their peers and watched him until he got to fall into a pool. ####.

[Danno 1,228]

Rule no.1 Never allow yourself to be caught in the midst of a group where each person is going to prove how ruthless he is to the rest of the group.

Pack mentality is unbelievable.

[meowmeowmeow 1]

makes you wonder how they're going to turn out when they are adults, sick little punks! englewood is actually a really nice little town too, that's disturbing.

[Danno 1,228]

Their future will most likely be one of consuming a small fortune in tax dollars as we try to "reach' them.

MEanwhile this kid with the busted up face will take out school loans to prepare for his future.

[Laveau 67]

Their future will most likely be one of consuming a small fortune in tax dollars as we try to "reach' them.

MEanwhile this kid with the busted up face will take out school loans to prepare for his future.

Yep. Poor kid. I hope his eyesight is completely restored.

[Kar_98 10]

Hate crime? Of course not