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DeLand High School student body-slammed, badly injured; classmate arrested

Charles Jordan, 17, arrested; police investigate cellphone video

DeLAND, Fla. – A 17-year-old DeLand High School student was arrested Wednesday on allegations of slamming a 14-year-old classmate on a concrete walkway and seriously injuring him.

DeLand police said Charles Jordan was arrested on a charge of felony aggravated battery.

[WARNING: VIDEO ABOVE IS GRAPHIC]

Police said an initial fight involved seven students, all of whom were “mutual combatants.” According to police, Jordan and the victim, identified by his family as Abraham Castillo De Paz, walked away from the fight when Jordan picked up the 14-year-old and threw him to the concrete.

According to an incident report and video that is a part of the police investigation, Castillo De Paz (pictured, below) was picked up from behind and slammed to the ground, losing consciousness “for a brief moment.”

Castillo De Paz landed on his head and neck area and was taken to AdventHealth DeLand before being transferred to Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital in Orlando with serious injuries, officials said. His family told News 6 on Thursday that he underwent surgery.

“He had to go through surgery. He’s in pain, he’s crying, he can’t eat right,” said Castillo De Paz’s brother, Juan De Paz.

Juan De Paz said other students are now mocking the video with pictures making their rounds on social media.

“Students are sending him messages, bullying him, they’re playing dead, laying down taking pictures,” said Juan De Paz.

The family hopes school administrators learn from it, too.

News 6 reached out to the district for comment, and it said staff de-escalated the fight quickly and students are being disciplined accordingly.

Abraham Castillo De Paz (Copyright 2022 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved.)

All the students involved in the initial fight face charges of disruption/interference with school functions, a misdemeanor.

Police said the fight and body slam caused a major campus disruption and prevented students and staff from going about normal activities.

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“The DeLand Police Department does not condone this type of behavior and will investigate and prosecute those who engage in this type of behavior to the highest extent,” the agency said in a news release. “We will release more information as the situation evolves.”

Jordan is being held in the juvenile detention center.

The case has been forwarded to the State Attorney’s Office, according to police.