Former Westlake High Student Found Not Guilty of Assault

WESTLAKE, OH - Deandrew Smith, a former Westlake High School student, has been found not guilty of felonious assault. The jury could not render a verdict on an abduction charge that Smith is also facing.

Smith was accused of fracturing another student's skull during a fight in a bathroom in mid-April 2016. The fight was recorded on a cell phone. The other student, 17, suffered bleeding on the brain because Smith allegedly slammed the victim's head against the concrete floor.

However, jurors acquitted Smith on Tuesday after nearly three days of deliberations. Cleveland.com reports that Smith argued self-defense, saying the victim and his friends cornered Smith, Smith's brother,and Smith's friend in the bathroom and forced a brawl.

The abduction charge was tacked on because Smith physically prevented the other student from leaving the bathroom. Smith may be retried on that charge, but it's unclear what the prosecutor's inclination on another trial is.

You can see Patch's previous coverage on the incident here:

• Fight at Westlake High School Results in Arrest, Hospitalization
• Former Westlake High School Student Indicted for Felonious Assault, Abduction

Photo from Westlake Police