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High school teen hospitalized after fight, now charged with assault

Posted at 12:55 AM, Oct 02, 2014
and last updated 2014-10-02 01:20:38-04

HENRICO, Va. -- A Highland Springs High School student beaten so badly that he was hospitalized for weeks has been charged with assault.

Henrico Police said he and another teen student have been charged with assault.

The student’s mother, Mary Martin, admitted her son hit another student first. But, she said, she was convinced he did it because he was being bullied and called disparaging names. After her son lashed out, she said other students jumped in and severely beat her son.

“If he hit someone, it’s because he was being bullied. I’m not saying it’s OK to hit anyone, but he was pushed to the max,” Martin explained.

He suffered a broken arm, a concussion and now has some brain swelling.

The mother says the fight stemmed from bullying. Martin said the incident happened during the school day and, to her knowledge, her son’s art teacher was inside the classroom at the time. She said the teacher was unable to break-up the fight.

Henrico County Schools spokesperson Andy Jenks released a statement on the issue when it happened, in early September:

“We take very seriously the safety and security of our students, and we are investigating this incident. As always, school divisions are very limited in what information can be made publicly available. Any of our students who are determined to be responsible will be dealt with according to our established disciplinary policies and procedures.”