Charges could follow schoolyard fracas
Two Farwell students assaulted

as recess ends; cops probe incident
By Doug Fletcher
Staff Writer

LEWISTON – Two Farwell School students were physically assaulted Wednesday by a suspended classmate who allegedly suggested more harm would have come their way if he had a gun, according to school officials.

The incident prompted Principal Deborah Baker to order a lockdown of the school’s campus Wednesday. She also called in city police. They secured the school grounds and began an investigation, which remained underway Thursday, said Sgt. Michael McGonagle, a Lewiston Police Department spokesman.

No charges had been filed as of late Thursday.

School Superintendent Leon Levesque said the incident unfolded shortly before 2 p.m. as the fourth- to sixth-grade recess was ending at the school, which serves grades kindergarten through six.

“Three students who were not supposed to be on the grounds” showed up during the outdoors recess unexpectedly, Levesque said. They were a suspended sixth-grade Farwell student, a suspended middle school student and another middle school student playing hooky from classes, he said. All were males.

The suspended Farwell student struck two other Farwell students while the middle-schoolers watched, he said.

As shocked recess supervisors moved to get students into the safety of the school, the suspended Farwell student supposedly told his victims, “It’s a good thing I don’t have a gun,” Levesque said.

He said Baker “made a judgment call” in ordering the school campus locked down. The decision was prompted by her concern that the suspended Farwell student and possibly the two middle-schoolers with him might try to enter the school to continue the assaults.

Levesque added that “in this day and age, in these times of heightened alerts and security,” he wouldn’t second-guess Baker’s decision.

Levesque said the two male students who were assaulted both showed physical signs of being struck. Levesque did not release their names, citing student confidentiality laws.

He said the suspended Farwell student and the middle-schoolers could face disciplinary action by the School Department as a result of the incident.

McGonagle said Thursday police were still piecing the case together and had filed no charges.

Levesque said it’s his understanding the assaults were part of a continuing disagreement between the alleged assailant and the other two students.

He said Baker was intending to send home a letter or notice with each Farwell School student Thursday advising parents of the incident and of the steps taken to protect students at the school.

Students and staff were advised of what had happened, as well as safety procedures employed, during an announcement Thursday morning.

At mid-morning, classes were being held as usual and happy and excited voices spilled out of classrooms to fill the halls.

Besides the main brick building, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, the Farwell campus includes a couple of portable classrooms.

dfletcher@sunjournal.com