Washington County Community Responds to Hazelbrook Middle School Incident

Joint statement from Tualatin Police Department, Washington County Juvenile Department and Tigard-Tualatin School District: Message to Community on Hazelbrook Middle School Incident

On September 20, 2023, an incident occurred at Hazelbrook Middle School in which one student attacked another student in the hallway. The incident was captured on multiple cell phone cameras and has since gone viral on social media. While we are unable to provide specific details, due to Oregon law protecting the privacy of juveniles, we want to keep the community informed about the steps that have been taken to ensure student and community safety.
The youth alleged to be responsible for the incident has been arrested and charged by the Tualatin Police Department. The Washington County Juvenile Department has received a law enforcement referral in this matter, and a petition has been filed with the Juvenile Court for Assault 4 and Harassment. As this case proceeds through the juvenile court system, we are prohibited from sharing further information about the youth and the court process, as per Oregon records law concerning juveniles.
The Washington County Juvenile Department remains dedicated to community safety and utilizes evidence-based intervention practices to address delinquency and hold youth accountable for their actions.
We acknowledge the concerns raised by parents and community members regarding the safety of students at Hazelbrook Middle School. Tigard-Tualatin School District (TTSD) prioritizes student safety above all else. While we cannot disclose the current status of the youth responsible for the attack in terms of enrollment, we assure students and parents that measures have been implemented to ensure their safety at Hazelbrook Middle School and all TTSD schools since the incident.
On Wednesday, September 27, a TTSD Student Safety and Wellbeing Forum took place, involving community members, parents, TTSD staff members, and the Tualatin Police Department. This forum was already on the calendar as part of the District’s efforts to inform the public of the ways we all work together dedicated to student safety. Concerns related to the Hazelbrook incident that occurred on September 20 were raised and addressed with the information we had at that time. A video of the meeting can be accessed here.
We understand the trauma and outrage experienced by students and families at Hazelbrook Middle School due to this incident and the circulation of a violent video online. We want to ensure that everyone is aware of the available resources for students and their families during this difficult time.
As soon as additional information becomes available, we will promptly share it with the community.

Statement from the Mayors of Tigard, Tualatin, and King City

As the Mayors of Tigard, Tualatin, and King City, we stand in support of the Tigard Tualatin School District Board of Directors in denouncing acts of violence. We are unified in condemning acts of violence, threats of violence, hate and bias actions, harassment and bullying. Our schools and communities must be safe places for everyone and those who jeopardize others’ safety must be held accountable.

Heidi Lueb, Mayor, City of Tigard, Oregon
Frank Bubenik, Mayor, City of Tualatin, Oregon
Jaimie A. Fendor, Mayor, City of King City, Oregon