Teen recovering after attack, robbery in high school bathroom
MOUNTLAKE TERRACE, Wash. -- A 16-year-old special education student got knocked out cold in a bathroom at Mountlake Terrace High School, and investigators say a classmate beat and robbed him.
"His face looked like he had taken several blows to the face," said principal Greg Schwab. "I've never seen anything like this. This is just, this is a first time for me... and it's very disturbing to me on a personal level because I know the student."
The 18-year-old suspect, Darian Sharpe, went before a judge Wednesday.
Investigators say Sharpe followed the 16-year-old into the bathroom, then punched the boy before stealing his wallet. The victim lost a tooth and broke his jaw in several places during the attack.
"The victim ended up with relatively severe injuries in this case," the prosecutor told the judge in Snohomish County Superior Court Wednesday. "Which is why I'm asking for a high bail."
Sharpe tells a different story, claiming the victim came at him with a knife.
"He says he was attacked," said Amanda Sharpe, Darian's mother. "So we need to get to the bottom of it because sometimes the situation isn't as it first appears."
Amanda Sharpe says her son is a good kid, headed for the Marines.
She didn't know about some of his prior arrests for assault, hit and run, and harassment.
"No, I wasn't aware of the harassment," she said.
Schwab says Sharpe has been expelled and parents have been notified. He insists his campus is safe, and is working to see if students knew in advance of the attack and could have spoken up.
"This incident proves for us that there's things we need to work on, obviously," Schwab said.
Police says there's no clear connection the boy was targeted because he's in the special education program. They say it could just be a random robbery, or a case of bullying gone too far.
"His face looked like he had taken several blows to the face," said principal Greg Schwab. "I've never seen anything like this. This is just, this is a first time for me... and it's very disturbing to me on a personal level because I know the student."
The 18-year-old suspect, Darian Sharpe, went before a judge Wednesday.
Investigators say Sharpe followed the 16-year-old into the bathroom, then punched the boy before stealing his wallet. The victim lost a tooth and broke his jaw in several places during the attack.
"The victim ended up with relatively severe injuries in this case," the prosecutor told the judge in Snohomish County Superior Court Wednesday. "Which is why I'm asking for a high bail."
Sharpe tells a different story, claiming the victim came at him with a knife.
"He says he was attacked," said Amanda Sharpe, Darian's mother. "So we need to get to the bottom of it because sometimes the situation isn't as it first appears."
Amanda Sharpe says her son is a good kid, headed for the Marines.
She didn't know about some of his prior arrests for assault, hit and run, and harassment.
"No, I wasn't aware of the harassment," she said.
Schwab says Sharpe has been expelled and parents have been notified. He insists his campus is safe, and is working to see if students knew in advance of the attack and could have spoken up.
"This incident proves for us that there's things we need to work on, obviously," Schwab said.
Police says there's no clear connection the boy was targeted because he's in the special education program. They say it could just be a random robbery, or a case of bullying gone too far.
Does anyone know when sentencing is?
 @Sarah he is out of jail on bond, you can try Snohomish County Jail - Court Dates
Hold up! Let's pretend that this mother didn't know about the harassment records but she knows about the a hit and run and assault... Does she really think he's a good kid that is going to the Marines?  The Marines ain't gon' accept this fool?! Mom, wake up! You F up on this kid but he's 18 now so let's hope prison will straighten him out since you weren't able to.
First off, I want to wish a quick recovery to the student that was attacked. When reading all these posts itâs clear we are mad about this. This is a scary situation to happen anywhere, let alone a high school. I have been torn on whether to post a comment or not, reason being Iâm afraid I will get jumped all over by pointing out a different view of the defendantâs family. What happen was wrong, period!! However, I saddens me to read multiple post that are slamming the mother & family.Â
The defendant is 18 years old (an adult) and the mother works multiple jobs to support them and is doing her best. Maybe her best is not good enough for others, but there comes a point where you cannot control your teenager when they are going down a dangerous path. I know this from experience, because I made some bad decisions in my past as a young adult. No, I did commit any kind of crime remotely close to the defendants. THE POINT Iâm trying to make is heâs 18, the mother canât admit him into an institution or send him to boot camp, in hopes he would clean his act up, he is an adult. The news didnât say that the mother brought him back to school and walked him right back into the principalâs office after discovering what happen.
In regards, to her saying on the news she didnât know about his record, of course she does. How about being in shock of what has happen and in shock having the news in your face trying to ask you questions? From a legal stand point (Iâm a Paralegal), we would always tell our clients to never answer any questions, especially on the TV!!
Both families have mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. Both families are grieving as to what has happen. The defendantâs actions DO NOT reflect completely on the family. The defendant is sick and needs help!! Of course he needs to be punished for his actions and hopefully something so tragic can help turn his life around, just as It turned mine around.
@jenniferjoewinston ...not a stretch or even a bold prediction to say Darian Sharpe has made a lifestyle choice that he wants to be a thug, his Mother must be proud ...There is some satisfaction in knowing that the "gangsta" wannabe Darian Sharpe has completely flushed away his future as the Marines are certainly not going to take him now....and I am certain (another bold prediction) there is more prison in his future...so it goes for human garbage and no matter how anyone heart bleeds for the maggot he will never do anything worthwhile in a decent society.
 @jenniferjoewinston i agree. he is an adult if he hasn't learned lets hope the system teaches him right an wrong...., in all respect,
Love how mom knew about other assaults her son committed but 'didn't know about the harassment.'Â Still, I'm sure he's a good person who was just starting to turn his life around, right?
In Joel Morenoâs KOMO story on the tragic assault at our school he suggested it was a case of âbullying gone too far,â and several times used the words âspecial ed studentâ to describe the victim. I have to wonder, therefore, if he or his editor actually care how bullying works, because they just hung a bullseye on that student that will follow him for the rest of his career.
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Joelâs editor might like to know itâs not called âSpecial Edâ; itâs called Learning Support, because that student gets the same âedâ the rest, just with targeted support. Joel knew that, because our principal told him and even advised against labeling the boy. Joelâs response? âWe feel itâs an important part of the story.â
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Right. Story. It isnât about caring about the kidâor even about the problem of bullyingâitâs about salable stories. And in that respect Joelâs instincts for that were dead onâtoday, CNN picked it up, and the label went national.Â
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A thing we learn in Journalism at MTHS is a code of journalist ethics, so we donât become a lazy, soulless tabloid. Joel just showed us why.
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By the way, are there cases of âbullying gone just right?â
@Stephen Merlino. I can respect your desire to protect the victim.  I have a child in your school district. He will attend MTHS in a few years but I've never heard of Learning Support. I grew up with the term Special Ed. But to me, that is not a negative term. Now that I am aware of the new terminology I will refer to the program correctly. My questions are, why was this information disclosed to the media? How did Joel even know that the victim needed learning support? I hope this information was relayed because it's relevant to the criminal case. I would hate to think that schools are disclosing private information about the students.
 @Stephen Merlino shut up their a news cast quit crying about some little thing
 @Stephen Merlino A STUDENT WAS SENT TO THE HOSPITAL, your crying cause they said he was in the special education class grow up please its not a label its what classes the child was inrolled in cry about something else your pathetic honestly an very disrespectful really to bring something like that up.
 @TheTruncheon you're right! && Ms. Merlino, your completely incorrect who cares what the news said, think about the situation and victim an we understand the student was special-education, but you don't need to blow it out of proportion.
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Your a teacher, to teach.
 @StevenJohnson5667 Well you don't need to apologize. It's just that people want to understand what others are saying. Your comment was just a little hard to follow, that's all.
 @TheTruncheon I apologize, i typed it in a rush!
 @StevenJohnson5667 Do they teach special-ed classes in English at that school too? If they don't... they should.
 @Stephen Merlino The only thing wrong with the term "special education" is that  people know what it means which, I imagine, is why Joel chose to use it.
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For bullies and other people who want to pick on others because they're different, "learning support" will do just fine.
@Stephen Merlino I appreciate your thoughtful response and agree that there are better terms than "special ed". But I don't think the majority of people would understand the term "Learning Support", especially if they don't have any school-aged children (myself included). Maybe Joel could have explained Learning Support a bit better...
 @Stephen Merlino Joel is right: It is an important part of the story.Â
So he was attacked by a special ed student with a knife, then beat him silly and stole his wallet? Sure.Â
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The clueless Mom needs to wake up. And where is Daddy?Â
junny_figueroa
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I truly miss the thumbs down feature.....
Mom - wake up - your kid is a thug.
 @JusticeSeeker "He's such a good boy" Ya, they all are...oh and btw the Marines wouldn't take him with those previous arrests so no, he wasn't headed there but keep telling yourself that so you can sleep at night.
There might be good in everybody, but the "messed up things" are not mistakes. They're crimes. His friends say that we've all "messed up" and that's true, but crimes are not mistakes to be forgiven. There is a known price to be paid, and all of the childish rationalization won't change that. His friends say he's a good person. Check out his facebook page. It's meant to generate fear, but his friends want to convince us he's a good person. Maybe so, until you get on the wrong side of him.
 @johnbe Are those M-16 machine guns?  What a... pleasant... picture.
Either that, a civilian AR-15 or a variation.
At least he wasn't turning his life around..
Ms Sharpe, you must be in denial or not have custody of your child not to know about his prior arrests for anything. Unfortunately you can say he is a good kid and headed to the Marines until they do a background check which he would not pass because of his priors since he is considered an ADULT. Maybe you should spend time being a parent instead of making excuses for your adult child who at 18 should know right from wrong including when not to lie!
Nothing pisses me off more than a parent who constantly makes excuses for their kid. You love him I get it BUT for gods sake when you kid screws up especially this bad TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY!! I have an 8 year old kid who so far has been great except for one incident when he called a neighbor kid "stupid". I grounded him and then walked with him to their house and made him aologize. This woman sounds as ignorant as they get. She claims she didn't know about SOME of his prior assaults, hit and run and harassment are you kidding me??
How can you claim your son's innocence when you dont even know him well enough to know he has priors? Perhaps if you had paid more attention to your kid he wouldn't have grown up to be such a S#@%%# person.
Oh he's such a good boy. Other than the assaults, harassment and hit and runs. My baby - is pure as the wind driven snow.
 @Howard Beale I have some waterfront property in Arizona I think you might be interested in....
 @Susabelle If you're going to respond to satire with snark, at least get the snark right.
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There is plenty of WATERFRONT property in Arizona.
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http://www.lakehomesusa.com/waterfront/arizona/phoenix-scottsdale-lake-pleasant-apache-lake-roosevelt-lake-tonto-basin/mls3yd-ARMLSAZ-4839186
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See the water next to the pool on the waterfront property in Scottsdale (just one of hundreds of examples).
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The snark is OCEANFRONT property in Arizona - and why you're at it, you can throw in the Golden Gate Bridge for free.
 @Howard Beale My humblest of apologies.........When I attempt to join in your sarcasm I will certainly be more circumspect in the future........... I thought I would hold on to the Golden Gate Bridge for awhile, I kind of like it......
@Susabelle, Howard was being sarcastic. I think you know that though.
 @SargeMcC Yes, I was encouraging it.... sometimes it just doesnt convey in the forums.......
When I was in high school we helped the kids in special ed programs and NOBODY picked on them because they knew the football players and wrestlers would deal with them.
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If Darian is guilty then I'd say his parents failed him, just from his mother's remarks of not knowing about his arrests (which I highly doubt). If he's not guilty then at least his parents have a wake up call to start doing their job. Kids don't magically find their way; they need guidance, discipline, and love.
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I just hope the person responsible, Darian or not, is identified during the investigation and brought forward.
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I pray that Jose has a speedy recovery.
 @Brahma37 I wish I went to your school. I was in special ed for eight years due to severe dyslexia (which can appear in my typing even today - I will think "put" and write "but") and having no eye hand coordination to speak of. When I was in elementary school, the idea of throwing a ball - completely alien to me. Couldn't even understand the concept.
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I've worked through all of it - but I was picked on mercilessly in school.
 @Howard Beale  @Brahma37 I was small for my age so I dealt with some stuff myself. That was until I broke a bully's nose after repeated incidents. After that nobody bothered me again.
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The bully's that bothered me had issues at home too and I'm sure some were physically abused because they got in fights all the time. It's no coincidence that this behavior stems from home; the place where comfort, love, and security are supposed to be. The child feels no security anywhere so they are constantly fighting for their own security. Parents need to realize that once you have a child it's an obligation to raise them, not me, you or anybody else. Once you have a child your free nights and weekends are now theirs too. Those toys you want will need to wait.
The saying "it takes a village to raise a child" has been taken to the extreme in our society because some parents forget they're part of the village.
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I think people need to ask themselves why they want a child before they decide to (yes, that's right it should be planned) and if their answer is anything selfish like "I want a mini-me", "it's my right to have a child", or the famous "a child will help my marriage" then they need to think again.If the answer "I want to give this child a good mom and dad" and "I want to raise and love a child" then they're on the right track.
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Unfortunately we see this too much. Parents who have busy careers and no time for a child, parents who use a child to put themselves on a pedestal (e.g. dance moms and child actors), and parents who have a child because it's the norm.
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Hearing a parents excuse that they didn't know of any arrests indicates that parent is neglectful and isn't fulfilling their role as a parent.
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In all fairness, how do we know it was Sharpe? Was Jose hit from behind? Did Jose see him? Did they have a conversation first? I do hope there is a DNA match because if it's not Sharpe then the bully is still out there loose, able to hurt someone else. If it is Sharpe, enjoy prison and no the military will not take you. You are not soldier worthy.Â
 @Northend Jose identified Darian to be his attacker. He didn't know Darian by name, but when he went to the office, he told them that his attacker was a boy of color. Faculty members pulled a year book and went through every photo of boys of color. When Jose saw Darian's picture, he got scared, but identified him.Â
KOMO isn't exactly always correct in their facts. KIRO has a different version http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/teen-jailed-alleged-attack-special-education-stude/nTNqQ/
@Northend Well you know it is Sharpe because he admitted he was involved. He just tells a different version of the facts. This is noted in the 6th paragraph of the story.
Amanda Sharpe is a zombie, I guess. Looks like she spawned one, too.
"Amanda Sharpe says her son is a good kid, headed for the Marines."
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nope, sorry - your son is a POS, not a wonderful snowflake.
 @SwampThing I read that and laughed. the Marines! LOL. Sharpe is not one of the few, the proud. Â
 @SwampThing READ BELOW, SEE HOW HE DENIED ALL CHARGES WHEN HE GOT YOU ON BAIL.
**UPDATE REPORT** DARIAN TYLER SHARPE IS OUT OF JAIL AND POSTS THIS TO HIS FACEBOOK PAGE
---DARIAN TYLER SHARPE --
From the utmost respect and truth I have ever had. I am sorry for what has happened to Jose, not all the facts are upfront yet and people are going to believe whatever direction it points but I am not guilty of what I am being accused of. I did not touch Jose, and from past experiences that I can only regret, and caused people to believe these things, I am lost as I see how many people don't have faith in me. In the end the truth always comes out, and I hope you will all see that when this is over. Like everybody I wish this never happened to him. I wish nothing more then for Jose to be okay and I want people to understand I would be gone a long time if I was guilty, I would not be able to say this now. For the people saying things about me, you have shown me how little faith you have in people. And if I am left to be alone and nobody can have faith in what I say at least until this is proven, then my only wish is death. I know the truth will be out in the end of this and will see I have done no harm to this young man and am paying for a crime I have not committed. All I ask is to let the truth be told through this case and investigation before saying the things you are. I am sorry what has happened and I wish the best to Jose.
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IN OTHER WORD HE IS DENYING ALL CHARGES , PATHETIC.
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@StevenJohnson5667 ....".. For the people saying things about me, you have shown me how little faith you have in people." wrong Darian you are not a person as you do not act like a human would, you are criminal (career it appears) and a parasite on society... so as a parasite, I laugh at you taking up residence in your new home, the Monroe Correctional Facility your proud mother can write you there @ 16550 177th Avenue SE Monroe, WA 98272 (cellblock TBD)....rot you maggot
Interesting. Wish he would have told us how he thought Jose broke his jaw and lost his tooth? And how Jose's wallet got into his possession.
 @StevenJohnson5667 Here is the thing that doesn't add up for his claims that the kid came at him with a knife: So, the victim came at him with a knife, according to the story, and then Darian took his wallet?  That's where his story falls apart.  If he was defending himself, he would have defensive wounds, and would not have the kid's wallet.  He didn't touch him? So... Jose beat himself up?  And what about his claims that the kid pulled a knife on him?  What happened to that?  Sounds like he and his mother have no ability to take the blame for their own transgressions. I will not call them "mistakes." Mistake is leaving your dry cleaning on the roof of the car and driving away. His prior arrests and assaults, are not mistakes. they are crimes.  Sound like a con artist.Â
 @StevenJohnson5667 His mother believes ever word he wrote, but she is the only one.
 @StevenJohnson5667 Not really, he's trying to make it appear he's denying it without actually denying it. He never said "I didn't punch Jose."
The mother says he was headed for the Marines. His Facebook page lists the USMC as part of his work experience, not to mention the foregone conclusion that he'd be graduating from the UW in 2017. I list the US Army as part of my work experience, but you can bet I didn't get that experience while I was still in highschool. I looked at his facebook page, didn't see the posting, but what I did see was revealing. Two assault rifles and a kid with an angry expression. He'll have his day in court. He'll discover that his guilt or innocence will be determined by a jury, not by "faith" which is mentioned several times in his post. He wants people to have "faith" in him? Sounds like a bit of a con man to me. As for me, my faith is in God, not man, especially not a highschool kid who lies about his work and education experience on facebook.
That was awkward. You're basing his life off of his facebook page. I go to this school and that's what most of the students in the school do on their facebook page is list where they want to go to college, and what they want to do in life. It seems like you're more upset about him lying on facebook than assaulting the student. AWK.
Awkward? Maybe for you. At least 4 other people don't think so. Hey, a person is what they do and is seen by others the way they portray themselves. All I'm saying is 1) his facebook page makes him look grim, and 2) the evidence seems to be stacked against him. Two different things for sure, but both have one thing in common. Him. Actually I'm not upset at all by any of this. I don't know either the accused or the victim, and I hope for the best for all parties impacted by this crime. As far as facebook, plan ahead as you see fit, but Sharpe claimed to be in the USMC in 2011. With his police record? No effing way.
@CTON, tell us what you know about this case. Is Darian violent to your knowledge? What's the story behind the wallet? Who owe who money and why? Have you spoken to either party?