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Arrest expected in Wilkinsburg middle school vicious beating
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Police have obtained an arrest warrant for a Wilkinsburg Middle School student accused of beating a classmate in a school bathroom.
Authorities said the assault occurred between 2 and 2:30 p.m. Thursday, between classes, in the boys' restroom near the cafeteria.
"He was beaten mercilessly," said Wilkinsburg police Chief Ophelia Coleman.
The assault was captured on cell phone video, taken by someone inside the bathroom, then posted on Facebook, said Superintendent Archie Perrin.
In the graphic video, a 14-year-old boy who police said is also a middle school student is seen repeatedly kicking and punching a 13-year-old boy.
School officials identified the students in the video, and the individual who is suspected in the beating was not in school Friday.
The victim's mother, Nickole Whitfield, told KDKA-TV that her son had been repeatedly bullied by the other boy for a few weeks.
"As a parent, I feel like I let him down because I wasn't there to help him," Ms. Whitfield said.
Chief Coleman said after a news conference Friday that an arrest was imminent.
A school director brought the video to Mr. Perrin's attention Thursday night, he said. On Friday morning, Mr. Perrin encouraged the victim's mother to seek medical treatment for him because it appeared the student had been beaten about the head, he said.
First Published February 16, 2013 12:00 am
