12-year-old boy assaulted in school lunchroom

Staff report

WARREN

A 12-year-old boy suffered a major injury at 11:50 a.m. Tuesday in the lunch room in the McGuffey K-8 school on Tod Avenue Northwest after police said he was assaulted by another student who was about the same age.

A Warren police officer working as school resource officer said he was sitting on the stage in the lunchroom when he heard several students yelling.

He saw a student take off his jacket and throw it on a table, run toward the victim and push him to the ground.

The officer’s view of the incident was then blocked, but the officer saw the suspect walk out of the lunchroom.

Another witness told police the suspect kicked the victim in the head. The victim’s head then slammed into the floor, which is tile or concrete.

A school resource officer was planning to speak with Stanley Elkins, juvenile prosecutor, Wednesday to ask about filing a felonious-assault charge on the suspect, but it’s not known whether Elkins did.

Officials at the juvenile court said Elkins left early Wednesday, and no one else at the juvenile court could provide information on charges.

The incident is recorded on surveillance video. The Vindicator filed a public records request with the Warren Police Department Wednesday seeking a copy of the video, but Sgt. Joe Kistler said the police department does not have a copy of it.

No information on the suspect was included in the report.

The victim had blood coming out of his mouth, and a nurse administered first aid.