8-Year-Old Boy Reportedly Sexually Assaulted At West Philadelphia School
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A West Philadelphia mother is claiming that her 8-year-old son was sexually assaulted at school.
"This is devastating," says the mother, who doesn't want her identity revealed.
She says words cannot describe the anger and the frustration she feels after hearing her son was sexually assaulted in a school bathroom by three of his peers.
"Three other boys came into the bathroom," explains the mother. "One put him in a choke hold, and the other held his hands and the other sexually assaulted him."
The alleged abuse happened in late October, inside a bathroom at Bryant Elementary in West Philadelphia. But it wasn't until last week that the boy finally told his mother about the secret he had been keeping.
Her son's transfer to another school was immediately approved by the Philadelphia School District, which launched its own investigation and found no evidence of sexual assault. Instead, the district concluded bullying was to blame. They suspended the three 4th grade boys for five days.
The Philadelphia police are also involved, and told Eyewitness News that if their investigation finds the 8-year-old victim was in fact sexually abused, the three suspects will likely face counseling as part of their punishment.
Reported by Jericka Duncan, CBS3
