A Syracuse mother burst into her daughter's classroom after blending in with students and repeatedly punched the teacher in the face, according to the police.
The incident unfolded at Lincoln Middle School in Syracuse and saw the teacher left with severe injuries.
Onondaga District Attorney Bill Fitzpatrick described the assault as unusually brutal during a press conference on Tuesday, stating: "These are injuries you don’t often see in a boxing match," per the New York Post.
The assailant, identified as Lynzina Sutton, 31, accompanied by her mother, Roxanne Thompkins, attempted to enter the school premises on Friday.
This came after Sutton's daughter allegedly told the teacher the day before, "My mom will handle this," following a disciplinary incident regarding her whereabouts during school hours.
Despite Thompkins being stopped from entering the school, Sutton, standing at 4 foot 10 inches, managed to disguise herself among other students by pulling her hood over her head.
Upon locating her daughter's classroom, Sutton allegedly proceeded to launch a series of punches at the teacher, causing multiple facial fractures and a concussion. The victim, described as a dedicated veteran educator, is now facing long-term health complications, particularly with her nasal passages severely affected.
Sutton fled the scene after the assault but was later apprehended and charged with burglary and assault. The incident prompted joint remarks from Syracuse City School District Superintendent Anthony Davis, District Attorney Fitzpatrick, and Syracuse Police Chief Joe Cecile during a press conference.
Davis emphasized: "When people are dedicating their lives to educating our students, they shouldn’t have to worry about this."
Meanwhile, Thompkins, Sutton's mother, expressed regret over the violent turn of events, citing repeated bullying against her granddaughter that allegedly went unaddressed by the school.
"She’s been slapped, she’s been kicked, they’ve broken her glasses three times, they’ve broken cellphones twice, and all we get [from the school] is, ‘Well what is she doing?’ They made her out to be the problem," Thompkins told CNYCentral.
She continued: "The whole Syracuse City School District should be held accountable. If your kid is being bullied, and you’re going up there, doing all the right things, asking all the right questions, and then all you’re ever hearing is ‘She is the problem, she’s the problem.’ But her report card shows [some of] her teachers say she’s such a joy to have in class at what point did she become so bad?"
In regards to the injuries that the teacher sustained, Thompkins added: "That was never supposed to be that way. I apologize for that, and I hope she recovers."
Sutton has been released on bond and is expected to appear in court at a later date. Fortunately, the teacher has been discharged from the hospital and is currently in recovery.
