A high school surfing dispute in California has escalated into a significant legal confrontation after 17-year-old William Frey filed a lawsuit against the Long Beach Unified School District. Frey alleges that school officials failed to safeguard him following an assault by three fellow Wilson High School surf team members in April 2025.
Details of the Incident
According to the lawsuit, first reported by the Daily Mail, the conflict began over a disagreement related to teammate Owen Keller's younger sister, Ainsley. Keller reportedly became upset upon learning that Frey was spending time with his sister. Court documents indicate that Keller threatened Frey over the phone and later arrived at Frey's home. The complaint alleges that Keller shouted threats outside the residence and damaged the back door before departing. Approximately 30 minutes later, Keller returned with teammates Samuel Katz and Joseph Ziroli.
The filing claims that the three entered the home through the damaged back door and discovered Frey hiding in the garage. The lawsuit asserts that Keller and Katz repeatedly punched and kicked Frey while Ziroli recorded the incident. Frey sustained bruises, cuts, and swelling during the attack. Additionally, the family home suffered over $5,000 in damage, including a broken television.
Legal Actions and School Response
The Daily Mail reported that Frey obtained a temporary restraining order against the three students from Los Angeles Superior Court on April 25, 2025. However, the lawsuit contends that the students were still permitted to attend surf class and team activities together, which Frey claims caused him to fear for his safety.
Frey's lawsuit also names Wilson High School principal Rebecca Caverly and assistant principal Keith Roberson as defendants. Frey's mother, Celinda Bradley, reportedly informed school officials about ongoing threats even after the alleged assault. The complaint states that she shared audio recordings and messages, including a threat that said, "We'll just get you at school."
The filing further claims that a video of the alleged attack circulated on Snapchat and throughout the school community. Frey also reports that classmates called him a "pedophile" due to his friendship with Ainsley, who was reportedly 14 or 15 at the time. The lawsuit states that Frey faced persistent harassment at school despite the restraining order.
Death Threat and Safety Plan
On May 5, 2025, an anonymous death threat against Frey was reportedly submitted through Wilson High School's "Say Something" reporting app. According to the complaint, the threat read, "I'm going to kill William Frey." Subsequently, the school implemented a safety plan allowing Frey to arrive late and leave early each day.
Frey has since relocated from Long Beach and is now attending college in another city. In a statement to the Daily Mail, the Long Beach Unified School District stated that it takes student safety allegations seriously but declined further comment due to pending litigation. Owen Keller also declined to comment, while Samuel Katz and school officials did not immediately respond to requests from the Daily Mail.
