‘Die a long, painful death!’: New Jersey teacher curses teens playing football defying coronavirus lockdown
HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, NEW JERSEY: A teacher was caught on camera as she cursed a group of teenagers who were playing football in a park. She yelled at the group and reportedly said that they should “die a long, painful death” from the coronavirus.
The teacher has been identified as Nicole Griggs, who has been teaching maths at Steinert High School in Hamilton Township for the last 15 years.
According to reports, the incident happened on Thursday, April 23, when the group of teens was playing on East Franklin Street. They suddenly heard the scream of Griggs, who was clad in a gray sweatshirt and walking her dog, from behind a fence. She reportedly told the group that the parks were closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
She then reportedly asked the children if they wanted her to scream the warning “loud enough so you can hear me over your music. Parks closed! You will get arrested if the cops come!” Griggs also reportedly told the teens that she did not care if they were recording her and putting it online.
“Parks closed. The whole area. Get it through your thick head! You are the reason we are in this situation. You are the problem, not the solution. Go ahead keep recording. Who are you going to show it to? Post me on social media. You’re the idiot doing the wrong thing. I’m just trying to save your ass and save your life. But die, OK. I hope both of you get the coronavirus. I hope you both die a long, painful death,” Griggs reportedly said.
She was filmed by one of the teens who then shared it on Snapchat. The clip was also posted on TikTok with a caption that read: “Y’all Mrs Griggs is losing her damn mind how tf is she a teacher #coronavirus.”
One of the teens allegedly targeted by the teacher, a freshman at the school, told The Trentonian that they left the park after a police officer came to the park. He also told the outlet that he and his friends have realized their mistakes, but were shocked by Griggs’ behavior.
“When she said that, I was shocked. I didn’t know someone would say something like that, especially a teacher. She should be smarter with her words,” the student said.
Talking about the incident, Mayor Jeff Martin said he had not seen the video of the incident but condemned the teacher’s comments as he said no one should be “wishing death or harm on people”.
“This is a very serious thing. We’ve got at least 50 people who have actually died from it, 50 families. It’s not something to joke around about. Teacher or not, it’s unacceptable,” Martin added.
The superintendent of the school, Scott Rocco, said the district was made aware of the clip and they “will address the issue immediately”.
Reports claimed that the teacher is not new to wishing infection and death upon people who do not follow social distancing measures. She had earlier also cursed people, saying things like, “We are surrounded by idiots!!!!!! Rode our bikes near Kuser Park this afternoon and what to [sic] we see but a younger couple with their daughter maybe 2/3 years old UNDOING the caution tape around the jungle gym so she could slide.”
“I totally called them out on it, wished illness on them, and commented that it was scary to even think they were parents. Their response: ‘We were going to put it back,’” read an April 6 post on the Facebook page of Nikki Leigh, which is reportedly operated by Griggs.