Just three days after Assemblyman William Colton, his chief of staff (now on unpaid leave) Susan Zhuang and community leaders met with Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez about the charges being considered in the aftermath of the September, 2023 schoolyard brawl at I.S. 201, the District Attorney’s Office has announced that it “intend(s) to dismiss all charges against” the father of the boy who was assaulted.

The case arose out of an incident in which a group of Asian students was allegedly assaulted by classmates, and which escalated a few days later, when a man related to the alleged assailants is reported to have showed up at the home of one of the victims in the original encounter, allegedly armed with what has been identified as a scooter handle. At that point, the student’s father also got involved, and was arrested, along with the other adult, when police arrived on the scene. The DA’s office has been interviewing witnesses and reviewing video footage in order to determine what charges were justified.

Assemblyman Colton (D—Gravesend, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach and Dyker Heights) expressed satisfaction with the DA’s decision. “After meeting with District Attorney Gonzalez and members of his team, I was confident that the district attorney would do the right thing in this matter,” he said. “When we met with him, we called upon the district attorney to complete his investigation as quickly and thoroughly as possible. I am glad that he has completed this portion of his investigation and cleared the student’s father.”

Both Assemblyman Colton and Zhuang praised the DA’s decision, and said they hoped that if charges were deemed to be justified against the other adult in the second incident, they would be brought. “If it is determined that he kicked the student in the head, as videos seem to show, he should be prosecuted to the fullest extent,” said Assemblyman Colton.

DA Gonzalez released his statement just before a rally was held in support of the student’s father on Monday, October 30, outside his office at 350 Jay Street. Approximately 200 people attended the rally including Assemblyman Colton and Zhuang, who both spoke. Assemblyman Colton and Zhuang then led attendees from the first rally to the Department of Education’s Brooklyn office at 65 Court Street, where they rallied to demand that the DOE institute comprehensive anti-bullying programs, as required by New York State law.

“I am really concerned that the DOE does not appear able to implement successful anti-bullying programs in all of its schools,” said Assemblyman Colton.