HALLANDALE BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - Police have arrested two teenage girls accused of beating up a classmate at a school in Hallandale Beach.
Police took a 13-year-old and a 14-year-old into custody on Wednesday.
“The best way to explain it is taking it day by day,” said Christina Neptune, the victim’s mother.
The 13-year-old victim was beaten earlier in April in the cafeteria of Gulfstream Academy and left unconscious. The victim’s mother, Christina Neptune, said her daughter still struggles.
“Emotions are different everyday. It’s a healing process,” said Neptune. “Anybody that played a part needs to be held accountable.”
Now it’s a legal process for the two girls accused of attacking her in the cafeteria, leaving her with a head injury and a fractured leg.
“I could’ve gotten a call that my child was deceased,” said Neptune.
“We here on the State of Florida versus Secret Southerland,” said the judge during court.
Secret Southerland, 14, appeared before a judge on Thursday and faces charges of aggravated battery with serious bodily harm.
“Secret?” said the judge during court.
“Yes?” said Southerland.
“Is it yes, or yes, sir?” he said.
“Yes, sir,” responded Southerland.
Meanwhile, the victim is scared to go back to school.
“It’s one of those things like, if I go back to school, will the same problem be reoccurring? Will I be another victim of an attack?” said Neptune. “It’s gonna raise awareness that right now, at this time, we need to stop bullying.”
The second student is expected to appear before a judge soon.
Neptune said that she hopes that this will shine a light on bullying and that kids see this and decide that this is not the way to go.
So far, two kids are being held accountable. Southerland will spend at least the next 21 days in jail and faces a felony charge. Another teenager is being charged with a misdemeanor.
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