The parents of a boy injured in a hanging incident at an elementary school school in Charles County, Maryland, said they don’t think they’re getting the full story.
The 7-year-old boy was allegedly hung from a bathroom hook on Friday, Nov. 15. He is alive but is recovering after being found choking on his own saliva inside the bathroom at C. Paul Barnhart Elementary School in Waldorf.
“He has marks under his eyes,” the mother of the boy told WUSA9. “He said that the little boy told him, ‘I’m going to show you how I did people back in the day.'”
In a post on Instagram, the mother — whose name is not public — claims a fourth grade student was behind the incident.
“He still has bruises on his neck from being choked,” the boy’s father told WUSA9.
In a letter to the school community Monday, Charles County Public Schools Superintendent Maria Navarro said it has gathered more statements from staff and students, and has reviewed school camera footage. Based on its investigation so far, the school system said it does not believe the incident was “race-related or there was any intent for anyone to be hurt.”
However, Navarro said in the letter, disciplinary actions are being imposed in accordance with the CCPS Code of Student Conduct, due to the “serious nature of this incident.”
Previously, Carrie Burke, the principal at the school, issued a statement saying the incident was first reported to 911 as a possible suicide attempt, but later said that wasn’t the case.
“This was then posted on social media by a community member, causing a bit of community concern,” Burke wrote.
“Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) quickly shared an update with you as well as the Barnhart staff to dispel any inaccurate information beginning to circulate. I apologize for the delay in that update, but our administrative team was addressing the needs of our students. The incident was also reported to our school resource officer (SRO),” she added.
The school said that two students were reportedly “horseplaying” in a school bathroom when one of the students’ jacket got caught on a stall door hook.
“The student was not able to free themselves and the other student involved was also not able to help them. This student left the bathroom to seek help from staff and reported the incident to administrators,” Burke wrote.
Then, staff called 911 for “additional precautionary medical support,” Burke said.
However, the boy’s parents said they think there’s more to the story.
“Doesn’t make sense to me,” the boy’s mom said. “If you’re horseplaying, how do you get caught on the hook? Like, we need answers. I want answers, and we won’t stop until we get them.”
His mom said he would not be returning to the school: “I feel like it’s bullying, because it’s no telling how many other kids this has happened to and they want the school district to step up,” she said.
In her letter, Navarro said CCPS reviewed student restroom use protocol with its staff, and that she’s working on scheduling a meeting with the Barnhart community soon.
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