David MacAnally/Eyewitness News
Carmel - Parents and residents are reacting to an ongoing investigation involving the alleged assaults of two Carmel High School students.
Four out of five starting seniors did not participate in Senior Night ceremonies at Carmel High School.
Three of the students are under investigation for their roles in an alleged assault on two freshmen. Eyewitness News has confirmed that a fourth senior suspended this week was not suspended in relation to the January 8th locker room incident.
The January 22 case allegedly happened on the team's bus en route home from a game in Terre Haute. Two freshmen players were allegedly assaulted in the back of the bus after the three seniors grabbed them.
The other case, which took place two weeks before, a student had an alleged altercation in the locker room with another student. A child abuse or neglect report was taken in that case. Police released a heavily-edited report on that incident after an Eyewitness News request. It says the victim told police about an ongoing issue occurring in the locker room at the high school.
"I've heard the allegations, but the experience in my life is I am not going to come to judgement on anybody," said parent Jim McMahon. "There's good in everyone. Just come out with the facts."
Before the basketball game Friday, parents shared their thoughts on the case.
"The part that scares me the most is that the incident occurred in a bus where there was supposed to be kids supervised," said Carmel resident Lalaine Smith.
"I hope that a lot of the attention is paid to the victims and not so much regard for the perpetrators," said Bill Burget. "The people who did this, their names should be revealed and dealt with accordingly."
Others commented on the media coverage of the investigation.
"Yeah, it's terrible, but news reporters are making more of it than it is because it is Carmel," said an unidentified resident.
"Obviously, something terrible happened, but I think the media is making too much of it," said parent Howard Locke.
"I'm very happy you guys are on all this. I don't always feel that way, but you need to be here," said parent Mark Satz.
The office of Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard released a statement Friday evening that police are treating the cases very seriously. Five detectives are assigned to the case and will interview about 60 witnesses and preparing their report carefully.
No charges have been filed in either case.
Related stories:
Carmel case under watch by state access counselor
Carmel Police release report on bus assault
Hazing expert unsurprised by Carmel assault story
Students disciplined over assault on Carmel school bus
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