UPDATED, 11:35 a.m. with police captain backtracking on whether attack was racially motivated
BELLEVILLE -- A Belleville police spokesman now says an incident where a white student was beaten by teen black assailants on a bus “may not be racially motivated.”
“It was premature on my part,” said Belleville Police Capt. Don Sax. “It was my personal and emotional comment after only seeing the video briefly.”
Sax said police interviewed the 17-year-old Belleville West High student. However, he said he was unaware of what the student told police.
Some of the students on the bus yesterday during the incident cheered the beating, the video shows.
Sax said a formal statement would be made available later today.
“After having reviewed the video, it doesn't strike me nearly as racially motivated,” Sax said.