A St. Charles County mother is speaking out after her 13-year-old son was hospitalized following an assault outside a carnival at Mid Rivers Mall in St. Peters on Friday night. Angela Brunner said her son Joshua was at the carnival with friends when the situation turned violent over something as simple as a laser pointer.
According to Brunner, a group of older teens approached Joshua and his friends, asked to see the laser pointer, and then refused to return it. When a confrontation broke out, Joshua stepped in to protect a friend and was attacked by multiple teens.
Brunner spent much of Saturday at the hospital by her son’s side as he recovered from his injuries.
St. Peter’s Police confirmed that two juvenile victims sustained non-life-threatening injuries during the incident.
Two juveniles were taken into custody following the assault. Because all parties involved are minors, authorities have released limited information to the public. The case has since been referred to the Family Court for possible charges.
Video footage of the assault circulated widely on social media over the weekend, drawing significant attention from residents across the St. Louis area.
Case Referred to Juvenile Court as Community Raises Concerns
The incident is the latest in a growing string of youth-related disturbances that have raised concerns among business owners and community members in the St. Charles County area.
Many residents have been vocal about the need for stronger intervention programs and better oversight at public events involving large groups of young people.
Community member George Kevin pointed out the limitations of the juvenile justice system, noting that being referred to Juvenile Court does not carry the same weight as adult criminal proceedings.
He wrote, “Referred to Juvenile Court doesn’t mean much unless the juvenile has a lengthy record. It’s a huge hill to climb for a juvenile to be certified as an adult. And finally, it’s important for parents of victims to know that juvenile proceedings are closed and dispositions on cases won’t be accessible.”
Robin Aylward called for the return of programs like Scared Straight, writing,
“Field trips to the closest prison. If you ever watched an episode then you know the outcome. I’d be willing to pay taxes for this to start. When I was young we had a DARE Program. Police officers were also involved. The assemblies were intense but the truth was told. Why are there no assemblies in schools anymore?”
Cindy Coombs Witbeck expressed concern for all the victims involved, writing, “Wonder how the other boy is doing? Praying for a fast and full recovery. In watching the videos, more than two boys were participating in the crime. Hope all names are turned in to the police.”
Joseph Howell took a different approach, suggesting that self-defense training could help young people protect themselves in similar situations.
He wrote, “It’s definitely a shame. Perhaps a little self defense training is in order. I never had any training but times were different when I was a kid. I just don’t like bullying at all.”
One commenter simply urged people to keep the focus where it belongs. Keep Going wrote,
“Instead of focusing on race, let’s focus on the fact that a kid got hurt. Regardless of skin color, someone’s child was injured during an event for kids to relax and play.”
St. Peter’s Police continue to handle the case. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact local authorities. Joshua’s family is asking for prayers and privacy as he continues to recover.
