Student Attacked By Classmates Faces Them On Dr. Phil Show

A Woonsocket Middle School student lured by four girls she thought were her friends into an attack over a facebook comment faced her attackers on the Dr. Phil show recently.

The show will air today on Channel 12 at 5 p.m. A video of the March 24 attack, which is also available on Utube, is posted to the show's website, along with some photos taken during the show.

The girl attacked, Alicia, is a shy, kind 12-year-old, said her mom, Holly Gingerella. The two were at the second annual Walk to Stop Bullying in Providence Saturday morning, she said. Alicia cut the ribbon to begin the walk.

Woonsocket Middle School Vice Principal Robert Picard said the girls attacked Alicia because she called the boyfriend of one of the girls "cute". Alicia said she wrote that the boy was cute on facebook.

The walk this weekend was important, Alicia said, because it let people who are being bullied know they have support. She said her trip to Los Angeles for the appearance on the Dr. Phil show was fun, but the part where she confronts her attacker on the show wasn't. "It was scary," she said. She said she thought her appearance would help others who might be bullied.

Check back for more details on this story, including interviews with Alicia, her mom and Picard.