Brutal attack on student with autism at school caught on camera
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MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS, OH (WEWS) — Cell phone video shows an autistic student crouched down trying to make sure his attacker did as little damage as possible at a local school.
“He was punching and kicking me,” said the victim, Nick Hoffman.
But the attack left him with a concussion and lots of muscle soreness.
The 17-year-old has autism and epilepsy. He said he was attacked at Polaris Career Center Monday by a fellow student.
“I feel like they’re trying to get revenge from me for some reason and I have not even a single clue why,” said Hoffman.
His mom Jennifer Hoffman says her son is bullied weekly at school, but this is the first time it’s been recorded and shared on social media.
“He tells me all the time ‘Mom you don’t know what I deal with everyday, you don’t know what its like to be me’ and I don’t know what its like to be him,” said Hoffman. “And now I have a better understanding what its like to be him and it just breaks my heart.”
Hoffman say she hopes this video brings awareness to the bullying epidemic in schools.
“I just want there to be an attention to the bullying, it needs to stop,” she said.
Hoffman says Polaris will no longer allow students to use the locker room where her son was attacked.
Polaris Career Center Superintendent Bob Timmons sent News 5 this statement:
“We were made aware of an incident that occurred yesterday of an alleged student assault which was video-taped and posted to social media. We immediately began an investigation and are following our disciplinary procedures.”
Although Nick Hoffman is still a bit sore, his spirit isn’t broken.
“Everyone is a human, and everyone should just act normal and treat each other with respect,” said Hoffman.
Jennifer Hoffman told News 5 she filed a police report.
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