BUFFALO, N.Y. — Buffalo Police have provided another update into the investigation of a gang assault on a 15-year-old teen.
The incident happened Tuesday around 3 p.m. at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Park Pavilion.
Police say a 15-year-old male was assaulted by numerous people. The teen suffered serious injuries and was unconscious when police officers arrived on scene. The teen was taken to Oishei Children's Hosptial where he is currently in the ICU. Police say the teen had a brain bleed, two broken clavicles, and possible spine injuries.
His family told 2 On Your Side, doctor's treating the 15-year-old say that he may be on medication for the rest of his life, as well as suffer from seizures.
"Xavier is still sitting in a hospital bed right now, and he's suffering. He can't get up to walk on his own. He has trouble doing other things, which I'm not going to disclose, but at the end of the day, the seizures, the issues with his brain, these are things. These are things he's going to have to deal with for the rest of his life, and the trauma," Sean Neal said.
According to Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia, all the those involved attend East High School in Buffalo.
Gramaglia says they believe the incident started earlier in the day at East High School.
Detectives say cooperation from the community, videos and the school district helped them identify at least three suspects.
A third teenager wanted in connection has been taken into custody. A 17-year-old male turned himself into police Monday morning.
A 16-year-old Buffalo male was taken into custody last week and is currently charged with gang assault. He was arraigned in youth court Thursday. He is scheduled for a felony hearing on Nov. 4 and remains in custody at the Erie County Youth Services Center. A second 17-year-old male was taken into custody on Friday.
“My office will be aggressively prosecuting this adolescent offender in Youth Part as police continue to search for additional suspects involved this attack. I want residents of this community, especially our youth, to know that we take these cases seriously and there are consequences to engaging in violent criminal behavior. My thoughts and prayers remain with the victim and his family as he continues to recover at the hospital,” Acting Erie County DA Mike Keane said in a release.
The victims family is also calling for prosecution.
"I'm going to want prosecute everybody to the fullest, even people laughing thinking it's funny. It's not," said Amy Neal, the victim's mother.
The teens are expected to be charged as adolescent offenders due to their ages.
Police are asking for help in locating the third suspect, posting on social media about Cordell Cooper's whereabouts.
The incident has sparked community outrage and questions on how to mitigate youth violence. An issue Murray Holman, executive director of Stop the Violence.
They turned it into a fighting playground right here when they leave the schools and others are coming from other schools to come here just to settle beefs," Holman said.
His organization works with young teens and adults through community outreach programs. He says it's going to take a village to curb the violence in schools.
"What it takes is this community of Buffalo and Erie county to say enough is enough," Holman said.