Nine high school athletes face sexual assault charges in a shocking case of hazing that has rocked a small Texas town.
The case from La Vernia High School in La Vernia, Texas involves at least 10 victims across three boys' sports, according to local news reports.
A 16-year-old boy who played varsity football was allegedly held down by his older teammates and sexually assaulted, according to San Antonio's KABB. The boy's mother told the TV station that the kids stuck "various items" up his rectum, including soda bottles, steel pipes, baseball bats and a carbon dioxide tank.
The allegations first came to light this month and have thrust La Vernia—population: about 1,000—into the spotlight.
The San Antonio Express-News reported that prayer vigils and other community events have been held in the days since the news broke.
The newspaper also reported that the aforementioned victim heard his teammates say, "Get him," before they proceeded with the assault, which happened on a bed.
Similar incidents of so-called athletics "initiations" date back to the 2014-2015 school year at La Vernia, according to the Express-News.
Robert Olivarez Jr. and Dustin Norman, both 18-year-old senior football players, are the only suspects to be named in the case so far. The other seven suspects are minors.
Clint Davis covers trending news for the Scripps National Desk. Follow him on Twitter @MrClintDavis.