A senior at Midview High School remains hospitalized and unable to speak after he was sucker-punched following a football game last Friday night, according to his father.
Lucas Hendershot, a senior at the Grafton, Ohio school, is now awaiting surgery. His father, Jeff Hendershot, shared details of the attack in a Facebook post, describing it as a senseless act of violence that has left his family reeling.
What We Know So Far
The incident happened after the September 18 football game, though few details about what led up to the attack have been released.
Midview Superintendent Chad Heuser confirmed the attack occurred and said the district is following all policies and procedures to conduct a thorough investigation. His statement did not name a suspect, describe what happened, or say whether any charges are being considered.
The Lorain County Sheriff’s Office has not responded to requests for comment, and it remains unclear whether charges are pending or whether other people were involved in setting up the attack.
Lucas had played on the Midview golf team for all four years of high school. His father said the injury means he will miss sectionals, a milestone he had been working toward throughout his time on the team.
Community Reacts With Anger and Concern
News of the attack has rattled the community, with several neighbors near the high school speaking out. One woman, who asked not to be shown on camera, said she could not understand how one student could arrange for another to be hurt so badly. She said the thought of it was hard to accept as a parent.
Another resident said schools need stronger policies to protect students, adding that adults should be supervising more closely even at after game gatherings. A third community member said someone needs to be held responsible for what happened, while also expressing hope that Lucas can recover fully and continue living his life.
In a follow up post, Jeff Hendershot urged the community to speak out against school violence. He said he hopes the incident pushes local schools to put stronger emergency plans in place so other families do not have to go through something similar.
As of now, no arrests have been announced and the investigation is ongoing. Authorities have not said when more information will be released.
