Recently a coworker (who from now on will be called "A") invited me to A's house to have some drinks and snacks. I asked if I could bring someone with me (coworker "B"), and A said it was okay.
In the course of time, A started serving stronger drinks and teasing B, who refused to drink because they are taking anti-inflammatory pills. As time passed, A's provocations got more and more aggressive, to the point that A actually turned to B and said "if you aren't here to drink, then you should leave the house". That's exactly what we (B and I) decided to do next. However, A wouldn't let B leave.
By the time we reached the exit, A physically assaulted B, who never retaliated. B was in a state of complete shock. As soon B managed to disengage from the fight, we rushed to the hospital and then to the police station. The current status is that A and B are pressing criminal charges against each other, with me being B's witness.
In your opinion, what should be done in this case?
- Should the issue be escalated to the office management, since the involved parties are coworkers?
- Should we keep a low profile, since it happened outside the office?
- Should any of the involved parties be fired/disciplined by HR or management?