Long Beach, California — A former high school surfing standout in Southern California has filed a disturbing lawsuit against the Long Beach Unified School District, alleging administrators failed to protect him after he was violently attacked, threatened with death, and repeatedly harassed by fellow students.
The lawsuit paints a troubling picture of alleged bullying, violence, and ongoing intimidation that ultimately forced the teen to leave the area.
Alleged Attack Began Over Friendship Dispute
According to court documents, William Frey, 17, was allegedly attacked by members of the Wilson High School surf team in April 2025 after teammate Owen Keller became upset about Frey spending time with Keller’s younger sister.
The lawsuit claims that on April 17, 2025, Frey was at home with Keller’s 15-year-old sister, Ainsley, when Keller called her demanding to know her location.
“Tell that motherf—-r that if you’re with him I’m going to beat the s–t out of him because I’m not f—-n playing,” Keller allegedly said during the phone call.
Just minutes later, Keller allegedly arrived at Frey’s home yelling, “Open the door William, I’m going to f—-n kill you,” according to the lawsuit.
Lawsuit Details Brutal Assault
Although Keller initially left the property, the lawsuit alleges he later returned with two other surf team members, Samuel Katz and Joseph Ziroli.
The trio allegedly entered the home through a broken back door while yelling, “We’re going to ruin your life.”
Court papers claim Frey attempted to hide in the garage, but Katz allegedly kicked in part of the garage door before the group found him.
According to the lawsuit, Keller instructed Ziroli to “record this s–t” before Keller and Katz allegedly punched and kicked Frey repeatedly, striking him 15 to 20 times each.
The attack reportedly ended only after bystanders intervened and pulled the alleged attackers away.
Teen Claims Threats Continued After Assault
Frey allegedly fled the scene while the group chased him in a white Volkswagen before he eventually found safety in a neighbor’s yard.
Police later documented injuries including swelling to his head, cuts, and bruising across his back, according to the filing. The lawsuit also claims the home suffered more than $5,000 in damages.
The harassment allegedly did not stop there.
According to the lawsuit, Keller later texted Frey, “you got more to come.” Video of the attack was allegedly shared on the surf team’s Snapchat channel and circulated throughout the school community.
School Officials Accused of Failing to Act
The lawsuit accuses school administrators of not taking sufficient action despite repeated warnings from Frey’s mother, Celinda Bradley.
Court documents state Bradley informed school officials about ongoing threats, including audio evidence in which someone allegedly warned, “we’ll just get you at school.”
The lawsuit claims assistant principal Keith Roberson allegedly told Bradley there was little he could do because the attack occurred off campus.
On April 25, 2025, a temporary restraining order was issued against the three alleged attackers, requiring them to stay at least 25 yards away from Frey.
However, Frey alleges the school district failed to meaningfully enforce those protections.
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Harassment and Death Threats Escalated
Despite the restraining order, the lawsuit claims the accused students continued attending classes, surf activities, and senior events.
Meanwhile, Frey allegedly endured ongoing harassment from classmates who labeled him a “pedophile” because of his friendship with Ainsley.
The situation allegedly escalated further on May 5, when an anonymous threat submitted through the school’s “Say Something” reporting app stated, “I’m going to kill William Frey.”
According to the lawsuit, the school responded by implementing a “safety plan” that required Frey to arrive late and leave early each day.
The teen reportedly became socially isolated and suffered severe emotional distress before eventually relocating to Santa Barbara, where he now attends college.
What do you think schools should do in situations involving alleged threats and student violence? Share your thoughts respectfully in the comments below.
