Three individuals have been apprehended in connection with the tragic death of an 8-year-old Chinese boy who was allegedly subjected to physical abuse by a martial arts instructor. The incident took place earlier this month. The boy, whose identity remains undisclosed, was pronounced dead on June 18th at the Third People’s Hospital in Chenyang.
The owners and one coach from the Chongde Juying Martial Arts Sports Club in Qingdao were taken into custody on the same day. The child’s parents had enrolled him in the martial arts school just one day before his untimely demise, paying $1,440 for a year of coaching. However, they received a distressing video shortly after, showing their son with visible bruises and looking pale.
The Chongde Juying Martial Arts Sports Club in Qingdao has come under scrutiny following the death of the 8-year-old boy. The child’s parents had enrolled him in the school just a day before his tragic passing. The owners and one coach from the martial arts club were arrested on June 18, the same day the boy was declared dead at the hospital.
The child’s parents received a video after his death, which showed their son covered in bruises and looking pale. Stills from the footage, depicting the boy wearing an orange T-shirt with the training school’s name, circulated online.
In the video, a woman’s voice can be heard threatening the boy, stating that his mother will not pick him up for a year if he continues to collapse. The footage also shows a man attempting to support the child while he complains about being kicked by the instructor. The boy’s heart stopped 20 minutes before he arrived at the hospital, according to Chinese media reports.
The Chenyang branch of Qingdao’s Public Security Bureau is currently conducting an investigation about the incident at the Chongde Juying Martial Arts Sports Club. The club had only recently obtained its license in April. The three suspects, including the owners and one coach, are expected to face charges related to intentional harm that eventually led to the death of the young student. The investigation aims to uncover the circumstances surrounding the alleged abuse and determine the extent of the club’s responsibility in the boy’s tragic demise.