VALLEJO, Calif. -- Six suspects were in custody Sunday following a vicious beating caught on a campus surveillance camera at a Vallejo area high school that left a star basketball player -- who came to the aid of a female student -- hospitalized with a severe brain injury, authorities said.
Bryant Lee, 17, was waiting to begin practice with other members of the Bethel High School varsity basketball team at round 4:30 p.m. Thursday when he saw a group of men attacking a female student, school district spokesman Jason Hodge said. click to see video
He rushed over to aid the girl, helping her flee and then the attackers turned their fury on him. On the video, the six can be seen beating, kicking and pummeling Lee as he lay defenseless on the ground.
Hodge said Lee’s teammates came to his aid, but not before he had suffered serious injuries. He was taken to John Muir Hospital where he was in serious condition and initially placed on a ventilator.
"We had six adults who came on the campus and there's no other way to describe it,” Hodge said. “They savagely beat one of our students mercilessly. The young man is lucky to be alive."
Lee’s mother said he was improving and had been taken off the ventilator and given his first meal Saturday, but that he faced a long road to recovery. She said she wasn’t surprised that he came to the girl’s aid.
"He plays for the basketball team; he's a well-liked individual,” an emotional Donna Williams said. “He’s smart, he gets good grades in school. I just -- I couldn't ask for a better son."
Vallejo police said based on the tape and eyewitness accounts they had arrested four members of one family -- Abraham Tili, 26, Alexander Tili, 26, Ray Tili, 18 and Ron Tili, 18. Also in custody were Kevin Young, 18, and a 16-year-old suspect. more
Bryant Lee, 17, was waiting to begin practice with other members of the Bethel High School varsity basketball team at round 4:30 p.m. Thursday when he saw a group of men attacking a female student, school district spokesman Jason Hodge said. click to see video
He rushed over to aid the girl, helping her flee and then the attackers turned their fury on him. On the video, the six can be seen beating, kicking and pummeling Lee as he lay defenseless on the ground.
Hodge said Lee’s teammates came to his aid, but not before he had suffered serious injuries. He was taken to John Muir Hospital where he was in serious condition and initially placed on a ventilator.
"We had six adults who came on the campus and there's no other way to describe it,” Hodge said. “They savagely beat one of our students mercilessly. The young man is lucky to be alive."
Lee’s mother said he was improving and had been taken off the ventilator and given his first meal Saturday, but that he faced a long road to recovery. She said she wasn’t surprised that he came to the girl’s aid.
"He plays for the basketball team; he's a well-liked individual,” an emotional Donna Williams said. “He’s smart, he gets good grades in school. I just -- I couldn't ask for a better son."
Vallejo police said based on the tape and eyewitness accounts they had arrested four members of one family -- Abraham Tili, 26, Alexander Tili, 26, Ray Tili, 18 and Ron Tili, 18. Also in custody were Kevin Young, 18, and a 16-year-old suspect. more
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