Bullied and beaten teen is grateful he's alive

SALT LAKE CITY — Ian Robbins can't remember the second half of the Highland Rams football game two weeks ago, yet it was the most dramatic part of the evening for the 13-year-old.

Ian, an eighth-grader at Hillside Middle School, was with his friends at the Oct. 8 Highland vs. Bountiful game when a group of 16- and 17-year-olds jumped him near the concession stands behind the stadium. One punch knocked him to the ground, and a flurry of kicks fractured his skull, police said.

The entire encounter couldn't have lasted more than 10 seconds, his father, Taylor Robbins, said. But his injuries required extensive surgery, including eight metal plates fastened to his skull.

"The whole thing is just a huge tragedy," said Salt Lake police detective Dennis McGowan. "This youngster was beaten, beaten severely."

One of Ian's friends helped him over to the concession stands to get help. His next memory is waking up in the trauma center, and later, waking up from surgery after having part of his skull shaved off in order to fill in gaps from the fractures.

The five high school boys allegedly involved in the fight were all arrested in the past week and booked into juvenile detention, and it's possible some will face felony aggravated assault charges. None were from Highland High School.

McGowan said the attack could be attributed to bullying, something that has gained major national attention in recent months, especially since the Obama administration addressed the issue recently.

"It's associated with bullying for sure," he said.

Ian said he only recognized one of the boys who fought him. The mastermind behind the attack had tried to fight him more than a year ago, but Ian declined.

"Ian wasn't intimidated and didn't bother to fight him," his father said. "I think that it just ate at this kid that his bullying was ineffective."

Robbins said he feels for the families of the boys in detention, as it's possible that their lives could be ruined on account of their actions.

"As a parent, your first concern is for the welfare of your child," he said. "I was never really angry."

Ian said that despite the surgeries and incisions, he feels very lucky.

"I don't have brain damage and I'm alive," he said.

e-mail: mfarmer@desnews.com