I must ask the question. Who punches a blind kid?
Noah Sparn, a student in California got more than he bargained for when he was caught on camera punching a blind student at school. Video recorded by a bystander shows the Huntington Beach High School student repeatedly punching the teenager, Austin, in the head.
The incident, however, takes an unexpected turn for Sparn when a third student, Cody, appears from behind and ends the altercation with a single punch. Knockout.
A California high school bully who was punched to the ground after beating up a blind student was arrested, police said as the teen who stopped the assault spoke out for the first time.
The teen tormenter, Noah, was arrested for misdemeanor battery and released to his parents after a video of him hitting his visually impaired peer, Austin, at Huntington Beach High School circulated on social media, police said.
That day’s beating was cut short after junior Cody Pines, 17, knocked Noah to the ground with a single punch, the video shows.
“You trying to jump a f—— blind kid, bro?” Pines said in the video, hovering over him. “What the f— is your problem?”
He was hailed a hero online and by his peers for his actions, although Pines said he “didn’t really want to hit him” in his first interview.
“But when you punch a blind kid, that’s what made me so mad,” Pines said. “I kinda regretted it but I kinda didn’t because if I didn’t Austin would’ve been more hurt.”
Pines, a former football player, said he had seen other videos of bullies “beating up kids and getting away with it” and told himself he would never let that happen if he witnessed it.
Teresa White said she is “proud of our grandson for standing up for that blind student.”
“Cody is a very caring and compassionate guy,” White wrote on Facebook.
School officials said they were investigating the incident and would not “condone this type of behavior from any student.” They would not comment on any aspects of student discipline because of education code and “personal support to our families.”
Although an online petition with more than 22,000 signatures claimed Pines was kicked off the football team for stepping in, school spokeswoman Alyssa Griffiths said Pines hadn’t even signed up to play this year after stopping last spring.
“The Huntington Beach school community is disappointed and discouraged by the recent bullying behavior captured on video at Huntington Beach High School,” Superintendent Greg Plutko said in a statement. “We are proud of our quality high schools, and this incident does not reflect the school climates.”
Pines said he wants at least one positive outcome of the incident.
“I hope everyone hangs out with him now and shows him love because Austin deserves it,” Pines said. “He’s such a cool kid.”
