Barrington Police charged two more teenagers in connection with a fight that left an 18-year-old Barrington resident seriously injured. Five teenagers have now been charged, police said.

Barrington Police Chief Michael Correia said all five teenagers have Barrington addresses. He added that the investigation remains open and more individuals could be charged. 

According to police, an 18-year-old Barrington High School student was walking home from school along Upland Way on Wednesday afternoon, April 24, when a group of fellow BHS students “jumped” him. 

Chief Correia said the 18-year-old suffered serious facial injuries during the fight. The incident occurred at a field near the Barrington Department of Public Works headquarters.

A video of the incident, apparently recorded by another Barrington High School student who was an enthusiastic witness and commentator throughout the incident, was posted and shared on social media. The Barrington Times viewed this video, shot from a mobile phone a few feet away.

In the video, the victim, wearing a black backpack on his way home from school, begins by declining an invitation to fight. However, he eventually gets egged into engaging, tosses down his backpack and squares off in a fighting stance with the lead assailant, believed to be a 17-year-old.

The two of them begin swinging and trading punches before a cheering crowd of fellow BHS students, with the younger assailant landing more damaging punches than his fellow combatant. After a short time, the 18-year-old victim falls to the ground and his assailant stands over him for a few seconds, before the victim gets back to his feet while being struck multiple times.

A few seconds later, the scene turns even more chaotic when multiple other students jump in and start punching and wailing on the victim’s face and body. At one point, the victim is bent over, trying to defend against the punches, while multiple students are slugging him. He gets pushed through a row of arbor vitae bushes, against a fence, before one final assailant strikes him in the back of the head with a violent punch that clearly staggers him. 

Multiple students can be heard yelling, cheering and reacting to the final punch and begin asking him if he is okay. The victim stumbles out of the bushes, appearing unsteady, and asks if he’s bleeding, shortly before the video ends.

The 18-year-old victim made his way home, police said, and his parents called Barrington Police. Officers responded to the teenager’s home and later obtained multiple videos of the fight. 

Police identified a number of suspects and later charged two 15-year-old males and a 17-year-old male with felony assault and/or battery, and disorderly conduct. The teenagers were brought to Rhode Island Family Court. 

Police have since charged two more teenagers. On Monday, police charged Jae V. Hogarth, 18, of 417 Sowams Road, with felony assault and/or battery, and disorderly conduct. He was arrested without incident and transported to Sixth Division District Court. 

On Tuesday morning, April 30, police charged a 16-year-old Barrington boy with felony assault and/or battery, and disorderly conduct. He was brought to Family Court. 

All of the teenagers charged were arraigned and released.

“As abhorrent as this is, as hard as this (video) is to watch, you don’t get held without bail for this kind of crime,” Chief Correia said.

“It’s a high hurdle to hold someone without bail. You have to prove they’re a danger to society,” he said. Chief Correia added that individuals who are parole violators or probation violators may be held without bail. 

Barrington Superintendent of Schools Michael Messore would not comment on the incident or those involved, but said that Barrington High School Principal Chris Ashley has taken the appropriate steps to ensure that the school is safe, and that students and staff are safe. 

Chief Correia said the School Resource Officer is well aware of the situation and knows the individuals who were involved. 

“The SRO is well-versed with what’s going on. He knows everyone involved… Obviously, I’ve talked to the people in the school department. We’re doing everything we can do to keep the school as safe as we can.”

Chief Correia said the Barrington Police Department is working with the Rhode Island Attorney General’s office.