GILROY, Calif. — The Gilroy Unified School District is facing renewed scrutiny following the emergence of disturbing video footage that captures a violent incident involving students at Christopher High School. This incident comes nearly a year after a student was stabbed during a confrontation on the same campus, highlighting ongoing safety concerns within the district.
The newly surfaced video shows a student attacking another girl, pulling her hair, and forcefully slamming her to the ground. This incident occurred as the school board convened in a closed meeting to address prior issues of campus violence. Attorney Mark Boskovich, representing the victim, identified in court documents as “Jane Doe,” emphasized that the brutal attack was orchestrated by another student, referred to as “Heather Doe,” who had been previously transferred from a different school due to behavioral problems.
Comments from parents reveal a growing unease regarding student safety. One parent, Sandra, remarked on the troubling nature of such violent acts occurring on campus. “I just couldn’t imagine being a student at this school and seeing this kind of thing happen,” she said, expressing disbelief over the normalization of violence among students.
Boskovich noted that this marks the third consecutive year of severe incidents involving physical attacks on Gilroy Unified’s campuses, raising questions about the district’s ability to maintain a safe environment. In May 2024, another incident involved a student attempting to stab another during a bathroom fight at the same school. Additionally, a prior case from 2023, where a girl was assaulted at a local middle school, was settled for $100,000 in damages due to lack of supervision.
“This isn’t just an isolated incident. These fights occur with significant speed while bystanders gather without intervening,” Boskovich remarked, underlining the glaring absence of adult supervision during these violent encounters.
In response to the latest attack, Boskovich has filed a lawsuit against the Gilroy Unified School District, citing reasons of battery, negligence by school officials, and failure to fulfill their duties to protect students. “Effective supervision is not rocket science; schools need to implement a comprehensive safety plan to prevent these incidents,” he added.
In a statement, the Gilroy Unified School District acknowledged the seriousness of these allegations, asserting its commitment to ensuring a safe environment for all students and staff. However, some parents argue that the problem extends beyond the school itself, suggesting that systemic societal issues contribute to the culture of violence among young people.
The victim’s family has since decided to withdraw their daughter from the school, opting to homeschool her due to persistent safety concerns. Meanwhile, the district has not revealed any disciplinary actions taken against the students involved in these recent incidents, leaving parents anxiously wondering about the measures in place to protect their children.
The community remains on edge as discussions about school safety intensify, with parents and advocates calling for immediate action to address the rising tide of violence among students.