Posted on October 3, 2016

Mother of Sylacauga HS Student Says Assault Could Have Been Prevented

Jamiese Price and Clare Huddleston, WBRC, October 3, 2016

Brandi Allen was in tears Sunday afternoon outside of UAB Hospital, while her son, Brian Ogle, was inside recovering from an assault.

“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,” said Allen.

Sylacauga police said he was assaulted in the parking lot of an old hardware store Friday night following his high school’s homecoming game. Police said  the 17-year-old was bleeding from his head.

{snip}

Allen said her son’s skull is broken in three places.

“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,” Allen described.

Police haven’t determined a clear motive, but Johnson said it appeared to be racially motivated and social media could be a factor.

Allen said things started at the high school and then made its way to Facebook. She said her son received threatening messages.

“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 explained.

{snip}