Parents Demand Answers After 7-Year-Old Found ‘Hung’ in Maryland School Bathroom

WALDORF, Md. — A shocking incident involving a 7-year-old boy at C. Paul Barnhart Elementary has left his family seeking answers after their child was hospitalized following an occurrence described as “horseplaying” by school officials. Parents are raising serious concerns regarding their son’s safety and the incident’s circumstances.

The event escalated on Friday when the boy’s mother took to social media to share her distressing experience, garnering over 215,000 likes on Instagram. “My child was hung in the boys’ bathroom by a fourth grader,” she wrote, detailing the frantic phone call from the school that led to her son’s rush to a nearby children’s hospital.

The boy’s injuries include visible bruising on his neck and blood vessel marks under his eyes, highlighting the severity of what took place. “He’s traumatized. It’s going to take time,” his mother conveyed, emphasizing the emotional toll on their family.

Hospital records indicate that the child suffered a neck contusion due to blunt force trauma. He is a second grader at the school where the incident occurred, raising questions about the supervision and safety protocols in place, especially when older and younger students share facilities.

In response, Charles County Public Schools acknowledged the incident but maintained that the children were simply “horseplaying.” Administration explained that one student’s jacket became caught on a stall door, leading to an emergency response that involved medical assistance. They further noted that the initial 911 report had mistakenly suggested a possible suicide attempt, causing panic in the community.

The mother of the injured child is dissatisfied with the school’s explanation, remarking, “If you’re horseplaying, how do you get caught on a hook? We need answers.” She expressed a strong desire for policy changes that would enhance student safety, advocating for increased supervision and separate bathroom facilities for different age groups.

Reflecting on her son’s experience, she revealed that he mentioned being threatened by the older student. “He said the little boy told him, ‘I’m going to show you how I did people back in the day,’” she stated, interpreting the interaction as a form of bullying.

The family is resolute in their mission to ensure that no other child undergoes a similar ordeal. They assert that the school district must be more proactive in safeguarding students. “These are all our children, and they are the future, so we just need to protect them,” the boy’s father said, emphasizing the need for a safe educational environment.

The injured boy’s parents have decided not to return him to the school, remaining hopeful for more comprehensive updates from the district about the incident and future safety measures. Following these events, the school superintendent released a statement affirming that the district is not concealing information about the incident.

As the community grapples with this alarming event, the focus remains on ensuring the safety and well-being of all students in Charles County schools.