Beverly Hills teenager arrested for attack on UCLA campus

An 18-year-old man has been charged with aggravated assault for allegedly taking part in an attack on pro-Palestinian protesters on the UCLA campus on April 30. (Photo: Tabor Brewster)

An 18-year-old suspect named Edan On was arrested on May 23 for allegedly attacking pro-Palestinian protesters at UCLA on Tuesday, April 30. According to a CNN investigation, On is a student at Beverly Hills High School. The Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office said On has since been released on bail.

“On the night of Tuesday, April 30, 2024, a group of instigators came to Royce Quad and violently attacked students, faculty, and staff who had set up camp at that location,” the UCLA Police Department said in a statement. “During this violence, an individual was seen on video attacking the encampment residents with a wooden pole, seriously injuring at least one victim. UCLA Police Department detectives conducted an investigation that included interviewing victims, speaking with witnesses, and reviewing surveillance camera footage and video from members of the public and media. On Thursday, May 23, 2024, at approximately 8:45 a.m., UCLA Police Department officers arrested an individual at a business in the City of Beverly Hills in connection with this crime. Edan On, an 18-year-old male, was subsequently taken into custody and transported to the UCLA Police Department where he was arrested for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. On, who was not a student, faculty or staff member at UCLA, was subsequently transported to the Los Angeles County Jail on $30,000 bail.”

In videos posted on social media after the April 30 attack, a man wearing a white mask and white hoodie can be seen attacking pro-Palestinian activists at the camp. CNN identified the man as On after interviewing On’s mother, Sharon On-Siboni, who had boasted about On’s actions in now-deleted Facebook posts. She also confirmed to CNN that On was a 12th-grader at Beverly Hills High School. On-Siboni later retracted her statement and denied that On had been at the camp.

The Beverly Hills Unified School District would not confirm whether On is a student at Beverly Hills High School, citing federal law and the school’s privacy policy.

“The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act is a federal law that protects the privacy of student records. Because of this law, BHUSD cannot confirm whether this individual is a student in the district,” said BHUSD Superintendent Michael Bregy.

However, Bregy stated that students who participate in such actions would not attend the school’s graduation ceremony on May 31.

“Participating in the graduation ceremony is a privilege and we expect our students to maintain the highest standards of conduct to participate in this important milestone,” he added.

A BHUSD representative would not confirm whether a student charged with aggravated assault would still receive a diploma.

On’s first court date is scheduled for June 21, according to Venusse Dunn, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Dunn said On was released on bail on May 24.

“The case is under review, which means no charges have been filed yet. So there is no plea until May 28,” Dunn said.

The UCLA Police Department said it is still investigating the violence surrounding the protests and counter-protesters that took place between April 25 and May 2. Anyone with information is asked to contact the UCLA Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division at (310)825-1491.