Ohio teacher undergoes skull surgery after alleged classroom assault by 16-year-old student

COLERAIN, OHIO: In a shocking incident at Colerain High School in Ohio, a high school teacher underwent skull surgery after a brutal assault by her 16-year-old student.

The Ohio Police Department received a report on January 4, at approximately 2:18 p.m., leading to the arrest of the juvenile, whose identity is being withheld. 

What are the charges against the 16-year-old? 

School resource police officers promptly responded to the scene at Colerain High School, located at 8801 Cheviot Road. Additional law enforcement and emergency medical personnel were dispatched, transporting the seriously injured teacher to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center for treatment.

The student has been charged with one count of felonious assault, with additional disciplinary actions expected from the school district. Following the assault, both the teacher and the assailant were taken to the hospital.

The student was treated, released into police custody, and subsequently transferred to the Hamilton County Juvenile Detention Center.

Hamilton County Prosecutor Melissa Powers confirmed that the student is accused of repeatedly punching the teacher in the head.

The severity of the attack necessitated surgery, during which a portion of the teacher's skull was removed to prevent brain damage caused by swelling, as per Law & Crime.

Teen admits to potential substance use

Police body camera footage sheds light on the aftermath of the alleged assault. The footage captures the 16-year-old, wearing a black Adidas tracksuit, appearing disoriented and nearly collapsing as officers attempt to escort him out of the school.

The officers bring the student into a nearby room, where he is seated in a chair and questioned about potential substance use. During the interaction, the teen admits to using a "cart," a type of vape device, but denies using marijuana.

He acknowledges receiving something in the bathroom but does not specify. Medical concerns arise as school employees observe signs of self-inflicted harm, with indications that the student may have been banging his head against surfaces.

Student links violent outburst to teacher's police threat

The student, claiming to be in a "dream-like state," recalls attacking the teacher after she threatened to call the police. “She said she was going to call the police, and then I just started punching,” the juvenile responded.

However, the student's attorney, Clyde Bennet, asserts that the violent behavior was a result of drug influence rather than a deliberate attempt to harm the teacher.

“His behavior, his violent behavior, his erratic behavior, the attack, the assault was not the result of him trying to attack the teacher, it was the result of the impact an influence that the drugs had on him it made him that way,” the suspect’s attorney said.

“He didn’t believe he was ingesting drugs he was just consuming a vape like a lot of juveniles and teenagers do.”