Man faces charges after Kirkmere School incident

YOUNGSTOWN — An East Lucius Avenue man is in the Mahoning County jail on charges he punched his 6-year-old son in the chest at school and pushed the principal in front of a group of students.

Bobby Kelly, 38, is expected to be arraigned later today in municipal court on charges of felony assault, inducing panic and domestic violence.

Reports said Kelly was called about 12:30 p.m. Tuesday to Kirkmere Elementary School, 2851 Kirk Road, to pick up his son because his son was misbehaving.

Reports said when Kelly arrived the principal was in the hall with Kelly's son and Kelly punched the boy, knocking him down. The principal tried to shield the boy and he pushed the principal then pushed his son to the floor

When the principal told Kelly to stop because there were students around, Kelly said they needed to learn what would happen if their parents were ever called, reports said.

Reports said Kelly was gone when police arrived but he came back and apologized for pushing the principal and that he has had behavioral problems with his son.