She was told that a school resource officer was taking care of the boy until medical professionals arrived and could take over. The police and the Henrico Fire department came to the school at 12:30 p.m. and said the student’s burn injuries were not life-threatening. According to the mother, the son’s math class was at lunch when he went to dispose of his lunch tray when a female classmate followed him and pulled out a lighter.
“That’s when the girl kind of flicked the lighter and lit his hair on fire,” the mother told the news station.
The mother says that when she got to the school she saw that her son’s shoulder-length hair was now burned to the scalp. The student had burns from the side of his head and covering one of his ears. She also noted that areas of his neck were scarred and blistered with burns.
“He was hysterical; he looked scared,” the mother said. “His pride emotionally and mentally is broken.”
The mom alleges initially the school didn’t want to press criminal charges against the student. However, she was adamant about receiving a measure of justice for her child.
“What if this was your child, what would you be, would you be livid, would you be devastated, how would you feel? Would you feel supported by Henrico County Schools?” she said.
On Jan. 13, the Henrico Fire Marshal’s Office has charged the girl with unlawful wounding.
Debbie George, the school’s principal, gave a statement to parents about the incident:
“This is Ms. George, principal of John Rolfe Middle School. I’m calling to let you know about an incident that took place in your child’s science class today. A student was burned by a classmate who was playing with a lighter. The injured student was taken to the hospital and is receiving treatment. Here at school, we are reviewing the incident to ensure something like this does not happen again and taking appropriate disciplinary action as necessary. Thank you.”
