Black student charged with assault after attacking white teacher at North Carolina high school in viral video
After a disturbing video circulated online depicting a black student at Parkland High School in Forsyth County, North Carolina slapping his teacher, prosecutors have taken action, arresting the student and charging him with three misdemeanors for assault.
The incident occurred on Monday at Parkland High School, where the student was captured on video yelling at his teacher before slapping her in the face twice. The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office announced that the Juvenile Justice system issued a Secure Custody Order the following day, charging the student with one count of communicating threats and two counts of misdemeanor assault.
District Attorney Jim O’Neil emphasized the seriousness of the offense, stating that when a student assaults a teacher, justice will be “swift and mighty,” according to WXII 12 News, a local NBC affiliate.
“This isn’t about the color of your skin, this isn’t about your political affiliation. Today is about one thing: sending a message to the teachers out there that law enforcement and the district attorney’s office support you and care about the job you do. Nobody goes to work and expects to be assaulted,” said O’Neil.
Tricia McManus, the superintendent of Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools, condemned the behavior depicted in the video, describing it as “mortifying, unacceptable, egregious, and definitely should not happen on a campus.” She emphasized that the student would face consequences both within the school system and through the legal process.
According to both the district attorney and Forsyth County’s Sheriff, Bobby Kimbrough, the two visited the teacher after she was assaulted. The teacher declined medical treatment and was able to return to work the following day.
“I still see it playing in my head,” Kimbrough said. “I’m amazed that she even showed up for work today.”