An Alabama high school student was left fighting for his life after being beaten following a pro-police post on social media.

One or more black teens are believed to be responsible for the assault of 17-year-old Brian Ogle, Sylacauga Police Chief Kelley Johnson said, according to WBRC-TV. Ogle reportedly made the principal of Sylacauga High School aware that pro-Black Lives Matter students issued a series of threats against him. The principal allegedly said there was nothing that could be done about it.

Ogle’s mother said the assault occured after her son took a pro-police stance in the aftermath of recent police-related shootings.

Mom of Sylacauga HS student beaten in possible racially motivated assault is speaking out. Hear more from her at 9 and 10 on @WBRCnews . pic.twitter.com/FFmTUkf7Un

— Jamiese Price (@ThePriceReport) October 3, 2016

“Instead of us planning for his 18th birthday, we’re here. Why? Because he made a statement that he backs the blue? I’m still trying to understand how someone, no matter the color of their skin, can do this to another human being,” Ogle’s mother, Brandi Allen, told WBRC, calling the attack a “hate crime.”

Police said Ogle was attacked in a parking lot Friday night following his high school’s homecoming game. He was found bleeding from his head and was airlifted to UAB Hospital after being taken to o Coosa Valley Medical Center.

Ogle’s skull was broken in three places, his mother said.

“Apparently he was hit with something that is possibly to be the butt of the pistol. He has stitches and he has real bad bruising on his shoulder. There’s a lot of wounds on the back of his head from being hit as well,” she said, according to WBRC.

Although police did not yet have a motive for the attack, they had already interviewed about 20 people, including witnesses, family members and persons of interest. Social media may have been a factor in what appeared to be a racially motivated act, according to the police chief.

“My son took it to the principal at Sylacauga High School and I commend him for that. He showed her the threats that were being made to him, but she told him there was nothing she could do. I’m appalled,” Allen said.

Police and the school district were made aware of rumors of violence at the school that were posted on social media, Sylacauga City Schools Superintendent, Dr. Todd Freeman, said in a statement. The school was placed on lockdown last Wednesday.

“They have a job to do it at school and they failed to do it,” Allen said. “I want to see them handcuffed. I want to see them put in jail. I don’t wish any harm on anyone’s child. I would like for them to have to look at my child right now. I don’t want any other mother to have to go through what I went through these past few days.”

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Frieda Powers

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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.

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