In a recent, disturbing viral video, a school resource officer (SRO) is seen lifting an 11-year-old boy into the air before violently throwing him to the ground, slamming him once again and then dragging him along the floor.
The incident took place at Vance County Middle School in Henderson, North Carolina and was caught on school surveillance video. The school apparently alerted the sheriff’s office minutes after the incident took place.
The officer, a North Carolina sheriff’s deputy, was initially put on paid leave after the video first surfaced, but it appears that either further investigation or backlash from the tepid response has led to his firing.
The boy’s family says he’s doing okay, but as they’re still trying to process what happened, they understandably declined a request for an interview with a local news station.
Vance County Schools released the following statement:
“We are deeply concerned by the actions that took place. School and district officials are working closely and in full cooperation with the local authorities to address this matter consistent with school board policy and state laws,” the statement read. “The safety of our students has been and continues to be of the utmost importance to our district.”
UPDATE: The school resource officer in question has been named as Warren Durham. He has avoided felony charges but has been charged with assault on a child under 12 and misdemeanor child abuse. Another family has also come forward to accuse Durham of pushing their child into a locker.
