HONOLULU COUNTY, Hawaii — A troubling video that surfaced online showing a young woman with a disability being assaulted has sparked widespread anger and concern throughout the Wahiawa community. The attack, captured in disturbing footage, led to the arrest of four teenagers linked to the incident.
The video, which quickly went viral, shows the woman being surrounded, hit, and bullied by a group of youths. The victim’s family revealed she is a former student of Leilehua High School, now 21 years old, and has a disability that makes her especially vulnerable.
While the exact timing of the assault remains unclear, the video’s recent release ignited outrage among local students, parents, and residents. Fueled by anger and a desire for justice, some community members took matters into their own hands, using social media to livestream their efforts to locate the suspects. At one point, their search on Instagram drew around 11,000 viewers.
On Wednesday evening, Honolulu Police announced the arrests of four individuals tied to the attack: three juveniles—a 13-year-old boy and two girls aged 14 and 16—and an 18-year-old woman.
Leilehua High School officials issued a statement clarifying that the incident happened off campus but involved students from their school. They assured the community that they are cooperating fully with law enforcement to ensure a thorough investigation.
Outside the Wahiawa police station, the mother of two of the accused teens expressed deep remorse. She apologized directly to the victim’s family, saying, “I never imagined it would go this far. I am truly sorry for what my children have done and I hope the family can find it in their hearts to forgive them.”
Students at Leilehua also voiced their dismay and hope for change. Senior Journey Emond spoke out against bullying, emphasizing, “It’s just not right. None of us are bullies. No one should ever pick on someone who can’t defend themselves.”
Police have indicated that charges are forthcoming against the suspects as the investigation continues.
“This article was written by Mathew Owen. AI tools were used lightly for grammar and formatting, but the ideas, words, and edits are all mine.”
