Atlanta teacher hospitalized after student savagely punches him for trying to break up a fight with classmate
A ninth-grader in Atlanta has been arrested and charged with assault after he was filmed repeatedly punching a teacher who attempted to stop him fighting with another classmate. The incident, which occurred at Frederick Douglass High School on October 7, reportedly left the teacher, identified as Mr. Robinson, hospitalized.
A video of the incident — captured by one of the students on their cellphone inside the classroom — shows a teenage boy standing over Robinson and repeatedly punching him in the head as he lay curled up on the floor with a hand extended over his head in an attempt to soften the punches. The clip also shows other teachers rushing inside the classroom moments later to Robinson's aid by tackling the student to the floor and restraining him there.
According to witnesses, the teen student had been fighting with another student just moments before when Robinson intervened and he was attacked. The teen, who cannot be named because he is a minor, was apprehended by authorities and was charged with assault, according to the Daily Mail.
Meanwhile, the teacher was rushed to Grady Hospital to be treated for minor head injuries and was later released. He is said to be recovering from his injuries.
Atlanta Public School spokesperson Ian Smith released a written statement in the wake of the incident, saying: "On Monday, October 7 at Douglass High School, a student assaulted a teacher who was attempting to prevent him from fighting another student, who had allegedly come to the teacher's classroom to confront the student. An Atlanta Public Schools police officer arrested the student in the teacher's class, and attempted to place him with the Fulton County Juvenile Detention Center (FCJDC)."
The spokesperson added that the FCJDC refused to take custody of the teen and he was subsequently returned to his parents. "The student still faces charges of assault. The safety and security of students and staff is a top priority in APS," Smith added.