Mom Says Son, 7, 'Was Hung in the Boys Bathroom' as School Claims It Was a 'Horseplaying' Accident: 'He's Traumatized'

11/17/2024 02:32 PM

"This is not something he's going to just get over overnight," the Maryland mother said of her son's mental state

The parents of a 7-year-old Maryland student have "so many questions left unanswered" after they say their son "was hung" in a school bathroom.

The boy's mother, whose identity has not been shared, recounted the incident in a social media post and provided details of what happened on Friday, Nov. 15, at Waldorf's C. Paul Barnhart Elementary School to area outlets WUSA News 9, WTOP News and Fox 5 Washington, D.C.

The parents told WUSA 9 News that the injuries their son sustained included "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 released a statement on the day of the incident, describing 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."

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The school concluded by thanking the students who reported the incident, the staff for managing the situation and the students for following directions while the paramedics were on site to administer care for the student.

C. Paul Barnhart Elementary School also said that there is an ongoing investigation into the incident, and the school resource officer and police are involved with the school's administrators.

In her Nov. 17 social media post, the boy's mother shared a photo of her son in a hospital bed, writing, "My child who is a 2nd grader was hung in the boys bathroom by a 4th grader."

She said she received "the most traumatizing phone call" from the school informing her that her son was being rushed 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."

The mother is hoping to bring awareness to other parents and students about the incident, emphasizing 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."