Education Police & Fire

Student assaulted by outsiders at Gig Harbor High

Police have tentatively identified several suspects who entered Gig Harbor High School Tuesday and attacked a student there.

The victim wouldn’t cooperate with police, but the assault was videotaped and by mid-Wednesday they had determined what had occurred.

The suspects accused a Gig Harbor High student of stealing a “Dab Pen,” a device used to smoke marijuana, while off campus, said Gig Harbor Police Chief Kelly Busey. One Goodman Middle School student and three or four from Peninsula High went to Gig Harbor High and were let in through a hallway door by a Gig Harbor student.

Once inside, they encountered and beat the victim, who sustained minor injuries, including a black eye.  The suspect students then fled.

“We have tentatively identified four suspects and will follow up when we receive more information from the school,” Busey said.

A Gig Harbor High student was attacked at school Tuesday. Ed Friedrich / Gig Harbor Now

“During a normal passing period yesterday there was a targeted attack on a GHHS student by five teens that were not known to the school,” said Peninsula School District spokeswoman Aimee Gordon. “We do have security on campus and law enforcement was immediately notified. We are still investigating, including reviewing our cameras, but we believe the assailants knew the layout of the school.”

A parent took the victim home Tuesday where he was interviewed by the police. He declined to cooperate with officers.

“We believe that he was assaulted by several other people, but he will not divulge many details,” said Busey.

The attack lasted 12 seconds, Gordon said. The victim didn’t retaliate. A source said the student was punched and kicked simultaneously by the suspects.

The school has many students coming on and off the campus during the day for a variety of educational opportunities, including West Sound Tech, Running Start, and NJROTC. School administrators are reviewing the cameras on campus and discussing how security can be improved, Gordon said.