The parents of a 7-year-old boy injured in a hanging incident at an elementary school in Charles County, Maryland, are questioning the school’s account of what happened.
The mother of the injured second grader told WUSA9, “He has marks under his eyes,” expressing her shock upon seeing her son after the incident in the bathroom at C. Paul Barnhart Elementary School in Waldorf. She recounted her son saying another child told him, “I’m going to show you how I did people back in the day.”
The boy’s father added, “He still has bruises on his neck from being choked.”
Carrie Burke, the school’s principal, released a statement clarifying initial reports. According to Burke, the incident was originally reported to 911 as a possible suicide attempt, but she said this information was inaccurate.
“This was then posted on social media by a community member, causing some concern,” Burke stated. “Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) quickly shared an update to dispel any false information circulating. I apologize for the delay in updating you, but our administrative team was focused on addressing the needs of our students. The incident was also reported to our school resource officer (SRO).”
Burke explained that two students were reportedly “horseplaying” in a bathroom when the injured student’s jacket got caught on a stall door hook. Unable to free himself, the other student involved left the bathroom to seek help, alerting school staff. Emergency services were called as a precaution.
However, the boy’s parents remain skeptical. “It doesn’t make sense to me,” said his mother. “If you’re horseplaying, how do you get caught on the hook? We need answers, and we won’t stop until we get them.”
The mother also confirmed her son would not be returning to the school, calling for stronger action from the district. “I feel like it’s bullying. Who knows how many other kids this has happened to? The school district needs to step up,” she said.
