They Don’t Care’: Black Boy Attacked on Video By Hispanic Student with ‘Big Butcher Knife’ Arrested for Defending Himself; Mother Says L.A. School District Failed to Protect Her Son from Bullies

A 14-year-old Black boy in Los Angeles was harassed, threatened, and attacked by Hispanic students for months before being arrested for trying to protect himself. His mother has filed a $10 million claim against the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), accusing it of failing to protect her son from ongoing bullying and racism.

On December 9, the boy, whose name has not been released, was involved in a violent altercation at Verdugo Hills High School. The fight, which was recorded on video, shows the boy being ganged up on by at least two other students.

Toward the end of the video, someone is heard saying, “he has a knife,” but it’s unclear who they are referring to. During the fight, two students were stabbed. The Black boy was later arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon, even though his lawyer, Brad Gage, says it was a clear case of self-defense.

Gage explained that one of the Hispanic students had a “big butcher knife” and threatened to kill the boy. The lawyer claims the boy had no choice but to defend himself when he believed his life was in danger.

The trouble began in August when the boy started attending Verdugo Hills High School, where only 1.5% of the students are Black, while 56% are Hispanic.

From the very beginning, he faced racist bullying. Hispanic students repeatedly called him racial slurs, beat him up, and even threatened to stab him. In one incident, caught on video, he was attacked in the school bathroom. Instead of disciplining the attackers, the school suspended the boy for three days, claiming it was for his own protection.

The bullying didn’t stop there. The attackers began tagging his home with racial slurs, including the N-word. Despite his mother’s complaints to the school, administrators failed to act, allowing the harassment to escalate.

According to the claim, the school district did nothing to stop the bullying, even though the attacks were caught on security cameras. In some cases, school staff witnessed the violence but failed to intervene. Gage argues that the school’s negligence created an unsafe environment that led to the December stabbing.

“They failed to discipline the attackers and instead punished the victim,” Gage said. “The school’s failure to act in August and September directly led to the stabbing in December.”

The claim also states that the boy now lives in fear for his life. His mother, referred to in legal documents as “A.O.,” says he can’t return to school or their home due to ongoing threats from the bullies. “My son was in a situation where he could’ve been killed,” she said. “I still feel like he can be killed because of everything that’s been going on.”

Gage believes this is not an isolated case. He is currently representing three other Black students in California who have faced similar racism in schools. “This is a case of racism,” he said. “We’re seeing Black students being deprived of an education because of threats and harassment.”

The claim also highlights the lack of police presence in schools. In 2020, the LAUSD reduced its school police force by 35% and removed officers from campuses. The police union blames this decision for the rise in violence, pointing to gang activity at schools like Verdugo Hills High.

The boy’s mother is demanding accountability from the school district. She wants the attackers punished and changes implemented to ensure other students don’t face the same mistreatment. The $10 million claim is a step toward filing a lawsuit against the district for its negligence and failure to protect her son.

“My son is a good, smart kid,” she said. “He was just trying to survive in a dangerous situation. No child should have to go through this.”

This case has drawn attention to the ongoing problem of racism and violence in schools, calling for greater protections for vulnerable students.