Charges unclear in brutal Kenmore high school hazing incident

Snohomish County detectives are investigating a brutal hazing incident involving a group of seniors who recently graduated from Inglemoor High School in Kenmore in the Northshore School District.

Detectives tell KIRO TV, the teenagers were a part of a school spirit group called the “Naked Vikes.” The school mascot is a Viking. This group paints their faces, wears bizarre outfits and loudly cheers on the schools football team.

Student James Walvatne described the hazing to channel 7, which included being urinated on, and getting hit with PVC pipes and headless golf clubs.

Walvatne said a group of seven juniors were chosen by seniors to be a part of an initiation at a park in Snohomish County. He also says another student burned a lit cigar into his shoulder.

Neighbors heard screams and called police. One neighbor said she woke up to screaming and what sounded like someone staple-gunning someone.

A district spokeswoman says “The school has heard rumors in the past, but when investigated, found no evidence. No reports of hazing involving violence have ever been reported.”

Because Walvatne didn’t tell the other students to stop, it’s not clear what charges could be filed against them.

Data cited from the national study by the University of Maine states that 1.5 million high school students are hazed each year; 47 percent of students came to college already having experienced hazing.

KIRO Radio’s Linda Thomas contributed to this report.