Western Springs Police arrested the student they say recorded the video of Heavyn Washington beating another student.
Western Springs Police arrested the student they say recorded the video of Heavyn Washington beating another student.
The Western Springs Police Department arrested a student who recorded last week’s beating of a student by Heaven Washington at Lyons Township High School South.
"On 5/3/22 at 10:05 a.m., Western Springs Police arrested a 14-year old Countryside, Illinois male for Disorderly Conduct. The 14-year old youth was arrested after an investigation stemming from his role in a physical altercation which resulted in injury that originally occurred on 4/27/22 at about 1:00 p.m. at Lyons Township South High School, located at 4900 Willow Springs Road in Western Springs," Western Springs Police said in a press release.
"The follow-up investigation confirmed the youth defendant recorded the aforementioned physical encounter between two other parties, and intentionally and unreasonably publicly disseminated the footage, causing alarm and a disturbance to the public."
"Although two youths have been charged as a result of this incident, the investigation into this incident remains active."
"Members of the public are reminded that a complaint contains only charges and is not proof of the defendant's guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government's burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt."
The accomplice, who videotaped the exchange, cheered on the attack.
“Beat her ass, racist ass bitch, yes!!!” the student yelled. “Beat her ass Heavyn, beat her ass ho.”
The arrest comes a day after Western Springs Police Chief Brian Budds called the incident in which Washington, a sophomore, jumped a smaller freshman girl, "disturbing."
The incident occurred on April 27, but police did not act on the fight until Monday, May 2 when Washington was arrested and charged with misdemeanor battery.
In the video, Washington punches the victim in the face several times, and then grabs her by the hair and drags her across the floor.
Both the police and the school system were slow to react, despite medical treatment sought by the victim afterward for a concussion as well as repairs to her scalp and jaw.
Washington’s grandmother recently noted that she had her "permission" to become physical with other students.
Washington had reportedly been in other altercations prior to the incident.