13-year-old boy arrested in 'bloody' attack on female Meadow Hill student

Parents who had children in the middle school classroom during the attack say that the male student punched the girl multiple times, causing her to lose consciousness, and then continued to assault her with a metal chair in front of frightened and “traumatized” classmates.

Blaise Gomez

Mar 18, 2024, 9:12 PM

Updated 200 days ago

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News 12 has learned that a 13-year-old male student at Meadow Hill in Newburgh has been charged with felony assault and is accused by district parents of beating a female classmate to “a bloody pulp.”
Town of Newburgh police revealed the teen’s arrest on Monday when News 12 called for information following the receipt of more than two dozen reports from concerned parents, staff and members of the school district community who said the eighth-grade student brutally assaulted a young girl on Friday, resulting in the girl being taken from the school by stretcher in an ambulance.
Police say they were called to the school on March 15 at 2:20 p.m. for a report of a 13-year-old girl assaulted. Authorities say the male assailant and his parents were taken to the police department, where the teenage boy was charged with second-degree assault.
Parents who had children in the middle school classroom during the attack say that the male student punched the girl multiple times, causing her to lose consciousness, and then continued to assault her with a metal chair in front of frightened and “traumatized” classmates.
News 12 is told that the school was in a hold in place on Friday following the incident and received a photo showing a large law enforcement response. Parents say the school had a two-hour delay for secondary students in grades six through eight on Monday as a result.
So far, the Newburgh Enlarged City School District has not returned News 12's calls for information.
Several parents say the female student was seriously injured. They raised concerns about the incident and district response, and allege parents were not immediately notified of what transpired. They claim that many parents learned of the incident from their students who called on cellphones to be picked up early after witnessing the vicious attack.
One parent said a teacher in the classroom did not call security for help until the assault was over and the student attacker left the room. Another parent said their student returned home with blood on their shoe.
An email to parents Sunday explained the lack of immediate parent notification saying that the district’s main concern was for the children and that “adding a layer of parental response to the building takes focus away from our students and likely distracts from prioritizing their care.“
The district email also notes that their Critical Incident Stress Management Team, made up of psychologists, counselors and social workers, was activated on Friday, and that students would have the opportunity to “process their feelings” at the school Sunday morning.
Police say the male student was turned over to his parents for a future appearance in juvenile court.