Features

A 15-year-old Berkeley High School student was assaulted Tuesday afternoon near Planet Juice in downtown Berkeley. 

The attack happened at 1:50 p.m. at 2200 Shattuck Ave., when the youth was battered by several unknown suspects, according to Berkeley Police Department spokesperson Ed Galvan.  

“From the report we can say that the attack was non-life threatening and therefore the Berkeley Fire Department was not called [to provide emergency medical assistance],” Officer Galvan said. 

The report was made by the victim on Tuesday at Berkeley High but no suspects have been identified so far or taken into custody. 

Galvan commented that attacks such as this are quite common in Berkeley.  

“Some are handled by school resource officers and some by counselors. It depends on how badly the person has been hurt. Sometimes the victim himself does not want anything done and the case remains unsolved. In the case that the attacker is identified and is 14 or 15 years old, the worst that can happen to him is probation. Or he might just be asked to explain his behavior and get away with an apology.” 

Galvan also said that if fights take place between Berkeley High School students, it is not difficult for the victim to go back to school, open a high school yearbook and identify the victim.  

“But in most cases they are too scared to do so. Some of these cases never get solved because we never get cooperation,” he said. 

Reporting incidents of youth violence was identified as a top priority by the police and school district at a recent meeting between the city and the district. Efforts have begun to distribute literature about how to report crimes to students and parents at Berkeley High School. 

The case is still open and is being handled by the Berkeley High School resource officer.