Watch VideoSurveillance tape of Pueblo West High incident released
Story By: David Ortiviz
Source: KOAA
A school district administrator called it the most aggressive assault he's ever dealt with in more than a decade. Two student football players allegedly attacked a classmate at Pueblo West High, breaking the victim's jaw and knocking out at least one tooth.
The facts have been slowly emerging since the attack happened last December. But now, after submitting a request to District 70 under the Colorado Open Records Act, News First has obtained a copy of the school surveillance tape, from the hallway at the time of the incident.
The tape shows some students waiting in the hallway. At one point one boy even takes off his jacket and sets down his backpack and appears to be searching the hall for someone, he's the one in the purple T-shirt. Moments later, a group of students crowd around him as he appears to confront a classmate. It's not clear when the victim is hit, but there are dozens of students running down the hall to get a look, one boy even jumps up and down to get a glimpse. After the attack, the boy in the purple shirt returns to get his backpack and jacket. He stops to chat with some friends and appears to look down at his hand.
The truth may never be known about what lead up to the assault. But a common story heard by parents and students is that two football players, Colton Vaughn and Zach Fillmore were teaching the victim a lesson for bullying another student the previous day.
On December 12, 2007 a freshman at the school was hit in the head with a football during gym class and got a concussion. An internal investigation by the school district 70 board of education found that the school's assistant football coach Dan Sanchez heard about the incident and told Vaughn the names of the so called "bullies." The board says Sanchez allegedly told some students to "take care of this," but did not give specific instructions to assault a student.
The school board says Vaughn and Fillmore came up with a plan to scare and intimidate the one of the "bullies."
The school board report states the victim was walking in the hallway to his 7th hour class when Vaughn hit him in the mouth, and Fillmore tackled him. Board members found the victim did not provoke the attack. In fact, they go further to say the victim wasn't even the boy who threw the football at the freshman's head, as some have alleged.
Because both Vaughn and Fillmore laid hands on another student resulting in serious injury, school board members found both students were equally responsible. In January, by a 4 to 1 vote the school board decided to expel Vaughn and Fillmore for 365 days each.
The school board was informed by the district attorney's office that Fillmore was being charged with third degree assault, and that Vaughn was being charged with second degree assault.
Additionally, Coach Sanchez is facing two criminal charges, including a felony for contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The other charge is reckless endangerment, a misdemeanor. The district attorney's office alleges that Sanchez induced, aided, or encouraged two minors to commit third degree assault.
Sanchez has been put on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. His next court appearance is scheduled for the second week of April.
Meanwhile, Fillmore's parents Stacie Taravella and Glen Fillmore have filed a lawsuit against the school district 70 Board of Education. The parents think their son's 365-day expulsion is excessive. They claim their son tackled the victim and pushed Vaughn away, telling both of them "it's over." They argue the victim didn't suffer any injuries as a result of being tackled by Fillmore. Also, they allege that Fillmore and Vaughn's actions were not premeditated.
Taravella and Fillmore are asking a judge to set aside the school board's decision to expel their son. Also, they want their son to be able to return to Pueblo West High and be allowed to play sports again.
Vaughn and Fillmore were both members of Pueblo West's state championship football team.
