Florida Student Knocks Out Teacher's Aide For Taking His Nintendo Switch
By Nathaniel Weekes
February 23, 2023
A 17-year-old high school student was arrested for allegedly attacking a school employee and knocking her unconscious after she took away his Nintendo Switch during class.
The Flagler County Sheriff's Office said the incident happened Tuesday (February 21) morning at Matanzas High School in Palm Coast. School resource deputies reportedly found a female paraprofessional lying on the ground "bloody with severe injuries."
The boy told deputies he got upset after she took away his gaming console, according to an arrest report. Documents claimed the teenager said he will "beat her up every time she takes away his game" and "when he comes back he is going to kill her."
Investigators reviewed surveillance footage, which reportedly caught the student, who's 6'6" and 270 pounds, walking fast at the victim. The 17-year-old then pushed the paraprofessional several feet, knocking her onto the school floor and leaving her unconscious.
Authorities said he started kicking and punching the unconscious victim "several times in the back and head." Bystanders jumped in to protect the victim, who was rushed to a local hospital. No word on her condition as of Thursday afternoon (February 23).
On February 21, 2023, the FCSO School Resource Deputies assigned to Matanzas High School were alerted to a paraprofessional employee being physically attacked on campus. Upon arrival, deputies located the female paraprofessional on the ground with severe injuries after an unprovoked attack by a male student. The student was escorted from the area and later placed in custody. The 17-year-old student was transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility and later turned over to the Department of Juvenile Justice. The student has been charged with Felony Aggravated Battery with Bodily Harm. The student stated that he was upset because the victim took his Nintendo Switch away from him during class. On surveillance footage from within the school, the student who is approximately 6’6” and 270 pounds, is shown walking fast toward the victim and pushing the victim several feet, knocking her to the school floor, which knocked her unconscious. The student is then shown kicking and punching the unconscious victim several times in the back and head. Others rushed in to help the victim who was unconscious during the entire assault and unable to protect herself. The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment of her injuries. “The actions of this student are absolutely horrendous and completely uncalled for,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “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. Our schools should be a safe place – for both employees and students.” “Creating a safe learning and working environment on our campuses is critical. Violence is never an appropriate reaction,” said Flagler Schools Superintendent Cathy Mittelstadt.
Posted by Flagler County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday, February 22, 2023
A Flagler Schools spokesperson told WOFL the victim has been with the district since 2004 and has been working as a paraprofessional since 2021. They also noted that paraprofessionals are assigned to students with an individualized education program (IEP).
The 17-year-old was arrested and charged with felony aggravated battery with bodily harm. He was booked into Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility and later turned over to the Department of Juvenile Justice, according to the sheriff's office.
“The actions of this student are absolutely horrendous and completely uncalled for,” Sheriff Rick Staly wrote in a statement. “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. Our schools should be a safe place – for both employees and students.”