Surveillance footage that went viral on Twitter depicts a student viciously beating a teacher’s aide at a Florida high school, knocking her to the ground, punching her, and kicking her repeatedly.
The video, which was released by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, shows the 17-year-old student attacking the teacher’s aide at Matanzas High School because she confiscated his Nintendo Switch during class.
The student — who is described as being 6’6 and 270 lbs — can be seen running after the teacher’s aide, violently shoving her to the ground where she lands on her stomach. He then stomps on her twice, then proceeds to kneel down and repeatedly punch her as she lays there without defending herself.
While the attacker punches her at least 15 times, a female adult runs up and tries to intervene, but the student is much larger and stronger than her so she ultimately backs away as he continues to hit the teacher’s aide.
A male adult, who can be seen in the video walking towards the incident at a slow pace, eventually jumps in to save the victim. He pushes the attacker off of his victim, though the student still manages to kick the teacher’s aide a few more times before the man and two women restrain him. The attacker is still kicking at the teacher’s aide even as he is dragged away from her seemingly unconscious body.
This violent attack took place on Tuesday, according to FOX 35 Orlando, which reported that “a school resource deputy was notified that a teacher’s aide had been physically attacked on campus. Officials said the woman was unconscious, bloody, and had severe injuries.”
JUST IN: 6’6” 270 pound black male student attacks a white teacher at Matanzas High School for taking away his Nintendo Switch during class…
Video reveals the unconscious woman being brutally assaulted and struck in the head roughly 15 times. pic.twitter.com/pZAJzhaykv
— Chuck Callesto (@ChuckCallesto) February 24, 2023
The victim was taken to a local hospital for treatment and has since been released. While the sheriff’s office did not know the full extent of the victim’s injuries, they told FOX 35 that she has multiple broken ribs and significant bruising.
“I believe she will be out of work for at least several weeks, if she even plans on returning,” the sheriff’s office said in an email.
Sheriff Rick Staly condemned the violent attack in a statement, labeling the student’s actions “horrendous.”
“The actions of this student are absolutely horrendous and completely uncalled for,” the statement read. “We hope the victim will be able to recover, both mentally and physically, from this incident. Thankfully, students and staff members came to the victim’s aid before the SRDs could arrive.”
The student was arrested on charges of felony aggravated battery with bodily harm.
According to the arrest report, the student made comments that he was upset at the teacher for taking away his gaming device — stating that he would “beat her up every time she takes away his game,” and that “when he comes back he is going to kill her.”
Several Twitter users expressed frustration over the sentence given to the violent attacker, with many of the critics arguing that he should have been charged with attempted murder.
“They had to drag him away to keep him from kicking her even though she was clearly unconscious. This is attempted murder,” one Twitter user wrote.
They had to drag him away to keep him from kicking her even though she was clearly unconscious. This is attempted murder
— Jazzy Not A Taco Roman (@roman_jazzy) February 24, 2023
