By Brent Schanding

Parents of a Frankfort High freshman who was the victim of a brutal attack captured on video and shared among classmates last week, say their son has been spitting up blood since the incident.

The student, identified as Hunter Loman, also suffered visible cuts to the right side of his forehead and injuries to his eyes, according to a photo shared by his parents. Blood vessels in one eye appear to have been ruptured. A patch of his hair also appears to have been ripped out in the attack by classmates.

The Lomans said they connected the dots about their son’s brutal attack only after reading the story published in The State Journal last Friday.

The story was prompted after reporters viewed a video clip of a teen cowering against a wall screaming for help within view of a city school bus.

Three to five other teens repeatedly beat him as he screamed for help. A school employee eventually intervened before the video abruptly ended.

While Hunter was not specifically identified in the article, the Lomans say he came home bruised from school last Wednesday and suffered injuries consistent with newspaper reports.

The parents said they initially thought their son’s battle scars were the result of “boys being boys.” But now it’s clear that he was violently assaulted, they say.

The Lomans did not report the incident to police.

“Hunter is not a fighter,” his mother Misty said. “He takes up for people being bullied.”

While Misty says she still refuses to watch the video, his father, Anthony, believes the high school coach who eventually intervened did everything he could to defend their son.

The Lomans told The State Journal their son was attacked because he was believed to have “snitched” on another classmate, who allegedly busted out windows of a property on Thorn Hill Bypass earlier this month. The other student, they say, is believed to have orchestrated the attack on their son with help from his friends as an apparent “payback.”

The Lomans told The State Journal that even though their son was the victim of bullying, administrators suspended him for two days following last Wednesday’s fight.

Misty said the suspension is unjustified.

“But we’re afraid to send our son to school anyway,” she said.

It’s still unclear what actions were taken against the bullies.

A Frankfort High office worker told The State Journal on Monday that Principal Michael Godbey was not there and unable to comment. Assistant Principal Craig Foley was also unavailable for immediate contact, the office worker said.

Foley did not return emails from The State Journal for clarification on the matter, but the Lomans said he did finally respond to their concerns Monday and that Hunter has been cleared to return to school.

The school board discussed the need for a communication plan Monday night.

“But I’m not satisfied a bit,” Anthony said. “Hunter should have never gotten in trouble. He was defending himself from five people.”

Anthony said school administrators told him that another video has surfaced, which allegedly shows Hunter pushing a girl who pulled his hair shortly before last week’s attack escalated.

The Lomans said they have not viewed that video. The State Journal could not independently verify its existence by press time.