GRAPHIC: Student ‘savagely beaten’ at Fellowship of Christian Athletes football summer camp

CLINTON, S.C. (WIS/Gray News) – A student athlete was “savagely beaten” at a Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) summer camp for football players, according to attorneys.

Video of the attack shows the student being punched repeatedly in a dorm room at Presbyterian College in South Carolina on July 7.

The Moorhead Lefevre Law Firm and the Kyle J. White Law Firm released a joint statement Monday on behalf of the victim’s family, saying the victim was beaten by football players from D.W. Daniel High School in Pickens County.

The camp was a school-sponsored event, and the FCA was renting out Presbyterian College’s campus at the time.

Presbyterian College said following an initial investigation, campus police referred the case to the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice and the 8th Circuit Solicitor’s Office. No Presbyterian College students or staff were involved.

Attorneys for the victim also released a video of the attack on Monday.

The School District of Pickens County also said Sunday that the incident was “an altercation involving D.W. Daniel High School students.” The district also said the retreat was a school-sponsored event.

“We are following our own district disciplinary policies, adhering to our athletic policy (based on South Carolina High School League guidelines), and also cooperating with Laurens County law enforcement through their legal process,” the district said in its statement. “We want to emphasize that we fully recognize the seriousness of an altercation of this nature. While we are committed to helping our students learn and grow from their mistakes, we are also ensuring that appropriate consequences are administered in line with district policy and the law.”

The district also said it was aware of “multiple factors and perspectives” regarding the attack and that it is committed “to a thorough and fair review of this situation, as well as an investigation of the football program as a whole.”

District officials added that they cannot provide specific details about students involved or disciplinary actions due to federal student privacy laws, specifically citing the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.

In its own statement provided to WIS on Monday, the FCA said it took immediate action when learning about the attack and sent those involved home.

“Their behavior falls unacceptably short of our standards of integrity, service, teamwork and excellence that FCA expects of all participants and has no place in our community,“ the organization said.

The 8th Circuit Solicitor’s Office said Monday that it is monitoring the situation and working closely with DJJ and other law enforcement agencies. WIS has reached out to DJJ for more information or further comment.

The victim’s attorneys said they are also investigating potential similar incidents involving D.W. Daniel High School or Presbyterian College.