The parents of a 7-year-old student in Maryland are left with numerous unanswered questions following an incident where they claim their son was found hanging in a school bathroom.
A mother shared her son’s experience in a social media post, detailing the events that took place on Friday, Nov. 15, at C. Paul Barnhart Elementary School in Waldorf. She provided information to local news outlets WUSA News 9, WTOP News, and Fox 5 Washington, D.C.
The parents shared with WUSA 9 News that their son had “marks under his eyes” and “bruises on his neck from being choked.”
“He’s traumatized. It’s going to take time,“ the mom said. “This is not something he’s going to just get over overnight.”
The school issued a statement on the day of the event, characterizing it as a “horseplaying” accident. “Two of our students were reportedly horseplaying in a school bathroom when one student’s jacket got caught on a stall door hook,” the school wrote.
“The student was not able to free themselves and the other student involved was also not able to help them,” the statement continued. “This student left the bathroom to seek help from staff and reported the incident to administrators. Administrators responded and were able to assist, but staff called 911 for additional precautionary medical support.”
The school expressed gratitude to the students who reported the incident, the staff for their management of the situation, and the students for their cooperation while paramedics provided care for the affected student.
C. Paul Barnhart Elementary School has announced that an investigation is currently underway regarding the incident, with the school resource officer and police collaborating with the school’s administrators.
On November 17, the mother of the boy posted on social media, sharing a photo of her son in a hospital bed and stating, “My child, a 2nd grader, was hung in the boys’ bathroom by a 4th grader.”
She described receiving “the most traumatizing phone call” from the school that her son was being taken to a children’s hospital.
“The principal went into the bathroom & found my baby foaming out the mouth & unconscious,” she added.
“I walked into the trauma room with 8-10 doctors surrounding my son,” the mom continued. “This is the most heartbreaking & traumatizing situation my family has ever been in.”
A mother aims to raise awareness among parents and students regarding the incident, stressing that “everything about this is unacceptable nothing about this is ok BULLYING is never ok.”
“I’m feeling anger & seeing red but my son is here by the grace of god and I will forever be thankful,” she concluded. “I have so many questions left unanswered. I thank everyone for all the calls check-ups & prayers.”