Swarming sparks action

An effort to identify the young people involved in a brutal swarming that was filmed and shared widely through social media channels is underway.

"Staff in the district are very concerned about the youth violence that occurred in the community," Kevin Kaardal, superintendent of Central Okanagan schools, said Tuesday of the Friday night incident at Gyro Beach.

"Staff are co-operating with the RCMP to identify those involved and to try to understand the cause of violence."

Kaardal said that district staff are following up on the incident by "wrapping support around the victim and all those involved."

"Promoting kindness and effective conflict resolution continue to be priorities for Central Okanagan Public Schools."

Kelowna police said the investigation is ongoing and only limited details will be provided in order to protect the integrity of the investigation, the youth suspects, and any potential judicial proceedings. Witnesses to the violent clash in the 3000-block area of Lakeshore Road are being asked to come forward.

“Police want to remind individuals that obtaining video evidence or forwarding it and posting it to the internet, when it is for the intended purpose of humiliation or degradation of someone else, is unacceptable. Any video capturing evidence of a criminal offence should be reported immediately to the police and not circulated publicly,” Sgt. Laura Pollock Kelowna/Central Okanagan added.

“All acts of violence towards youth should be reported to police. Together as a community, we must double down our efforts to stop this criminality and deter violence against youth."

Video footage of the incident shows a 13 year old girl being thrown to the ground by two young people, then beaten while a group watches and cheers. The attack is temporarily broken up before the girl is then kicked in the face and rendered unconscious.

She is struck a few more times while lying motionless, all the while a horde of young people look on and jeer. Some threw and kicked dirt on her head.

The teen's parent, Donovan Williams, said his daughter suffered bruised ribs and a concussion. She was taken to hospital after the incident and is currently recovering.

“She can't feel safe going anywhere," he said. "There were 30 people there and she didn’t know any of them.”

This is the second incident of this kind in the Central Okanagan this year.

In January, another swarming happened near a bus stop on Highway 97 near the Super 8 motel, involving youth from “multiple communities.”

RCMP said the incident was reported to them by the evening of Jan. 7, and, by Jan. 8, all parties involved were identified and either arrested or had been spoken to.

Whether it's indicative of a trend remains to be seen, but according to Statistics Canada, incidents of youth violence are on the rise in Kelowna.

In 2019, the total number of youth charged of a criminal offence in Kelowna was 97, in 2020 there were 98 youth were charged of a crime, in 2021 there were 76 youth charged, in 2022 there were 60 youth charged and in 2023 there were 136 youth charged.

Kelowna's mayor Tom Dyas said he's shocked about this incident.

"My thoughts are with the young victim and her family during this incredibly difficult time, and I wish her a full and swift recovery," Dyas said.

He said he's been in contact with the RCMP Superintendent and has full confidence in the work they are doing to ensure that those responsible are held accountable.

Anyone who may have witnessed this incident and has yet to speak with police is asked to phone the Kelowna RCMP at 250-762-3300 and reference file number 2024-57168.