“She was covered in blood.”
That’s what Stephanie Rempel saw when she rushed to Collicutt Centre in Red Deer, Alta., after she received a call that her 14-year-old daughter had been injured.
“Her jeans were just covered in blood. She had blood all over her face,” recalled Rempel. “That’s horrifying as a mother to see your daughter like that.”
What was as traumatizing for Rempel was seeing video of how her daughter, Rylin Brinston, sustained her injuries.
Videos sent to Rempel and also circulating on social media show one girl on top of Brinston, repeatedly punching her in the head and slamming her head into the ground. Several other people were seen in the video observing the altercation.
Brinston, with two black eyes, internal eye bleeding and a concussion, said fights happen at school all the time.
“This is a little excessive,” she said. “I didn’t even say anything to her. It feels weird to think that it was unprovoked.”
Brinston said she doesn’t recall much of the assault or what happened after.
“I remember the first hit and waking up in the hospital,” she said.
It was reported that multiple 911 calls were made Monday around 2:20 p.m. for an assault at a field in the Lancaster Meadows area.
RCMP confirmed that two 14-year-old girls have been arrested and charged, one with assault by choking, and both with assault causing bodily harm in connection to the incident.
‘She didn’t deserve that’
Both teens have been released with conditions and are to appear in court on June 25.
“This goes beyond bullying and just a fight,” said Rempel. “That was a completely violent, brutal attack, and that’s something that shouldn’t be taken lightly.
“I just want justice for my daughter. This was unfair and she didn’t deserve that.”
CTV News Edmonton obtained a letter Hunting Hills High School principal Jamie Rawlusyk sent to families Tuesday regarding the assault.
“While the incident did not occur on school property, some of the individuals involved are our students,” wrote Rawlusyk. “As a result, all students involved are facing disciplinary actions and consequences.”
Last month, Red Deer Public Schools partnered with Mounties, bringing its Youth and Community Action Team into the division’s high schools to engage with students proactively before challenges arise.
“Whenever we have multiple events that are happening, it’s a concern,” said central RCMP spokesperson Sandra Geiger. “There’s a question as to what the underlying issues are.”
A GoFundMe has been started for Brinston to support medical care, replacing glasses and counselling and emotional support resources.
“We have a road ahead of us,” said Rempel. “But we should be OK.”
Police respond to bomb, shooting threat at Hunting Hills
Police were in the same area as the assault Wednesday afternoon, responding to a bomb and shooting threat at Hunting Hills High School.
Shortly after 11 a.m., RCMP received an anonymous threat made toward Hunting Hills. Police said the initial report indicated that the school was surrounded by bombs and was going to be shot up.
Officers were on scene immediately while nearby Collicutt Centre and Notre Dame Secondary School were put on hold and secure status as police investigated.
Hunting Hill administration and RCMP made a joint decision to send students home for the remainder of the day out of caution.
Buses were sent for students who ride the bus, and Mounties supported a secured release of students from the school and to their vehicles.
As of 2:51 p.m., Notre Dame and Collicutt Centre were taken off hold and secure status.
There is no active threat or risk to the public, say police, as they continue to investigate.
RCMP say they have not connected the assault with the threat that initiated the hold and secure.
With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Nahreman Issa and Jeremy Thompson
