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Official: Family feud may have prompted parent to attack 9-year-old with hammer at school

Posted at 2:39 PM, Jun 01, 2014
and last updated 2014-06-01 14:39:09-04

OAKLAND, Calif. — A woman is accused of attacking a third-grade girl with a hammer in an elementary school bathroom in Oakland, California.

Officials said they arrested Haseemah Diame, a parent and volunteer at Lafayette Elementary School Friday afternoon.

A district spokesman Troy Flint said Diame, the mother of a student at the school, was a frequent visitor on campus who was recognizable to both students and staff.

“She was able to lure this other girl away from the play-yard during recess into an adjacent bathroom there by the school, once in the bathroom, Diame proceeded to assault the girl with a hammer,” Flint told KPIX.

The attack was discovered when a teacher and school security guard checked the bathroom for the student.

Diame, who was detained at the scene and arrested by police, is expected to face assault with a deadly weapon charges.

The girl had serious injuries and was hospitalized, but was conscious after the attack and is expected to recover.

Flint said information on the motive for the attack remains “speculative.” However, he said it appears it may be the result of a feud between families at the school.