LOS ANGELES, CA – A 14-year-old boy arrested in connection with a stabbing incident at Verdugo Hills High School earlier this month had been the target of racial bullying, his mother said, accusing the school of failing to address prior attacks against her son.
The incident, which resulted in the school temporarily shutting down and two students requiring medical attention, has drawn criticism from the boy’s family, who allege that administrators ignored repeated complaints about bullying before the violent altercation.
The boy’s mother, who did not disclose her name, said the bullying her son experienced stemmed from the fact that he is Black. She claimed the school dismissed her concerns after a video surfaced showing her son being physically assaulted in a bathroom by two other students.
The footage, which the family shared with investigators, allegedly depicts the 14-year-old being slammed to the bathroom floor while other students shouted racial slurs.
“They didn’t care,” the mother said, recalling a meeting with school officials days after the fight. “They didn’t do anything to the other kids.”
Instead, the school reportedly suggested transferring her son to another campus.
The stabbing incident occurred days after the video-recorded bathroom fight, escalating tensions on campus. Authorities said the 14-year-old stabbed two classmates, who were later treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
The teenager was arrested and subsequently charged with assault with a deadly weapon, according to his attorney, who maintains the boy acted in self-defense after facing repeated harassment.
“This is a case of a young man who was pushed to his limits by relentless bullying,” the attorney said. “He feared for his safety and was defending himself.”
The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) has not publicly commented on the case, citing ongoing legal proceedings.
In a brief statement, district officials said they take reports of bullying and violence seriously and continue to cooperate with law enforcement during the investigation.
The incident has raised broader questions about campus safety and how schools handle racism and bullying complaints.
Parents and students expressed concerns about school safety policies and questioned whether the administration responded appropriately to the earlier altercation.
“This should have been prevented,” said a parent who asked not to be identified. “The school needs to address bullying before it leads to situations like this.”
Civil rights advocates have also weighed in, urging LAUSD to implement stronger anti-bullying protocols and provide additional support for students of color facing harassment.
“This case highlights the need for schools to treat bullying—especially racially motivated attacks—as a serious issue requiring immediate intervention,” said a spokesperson for a local advocacy group.
The 14-year-old remains in custody as the legal process unfolds. His attorney is pushing for the court to consider the context of bullying in the case and plans to present evidence supporting claims that the teen acted out of fear for his safety.
Meanwhile, the investigation into the stabbing and prior bullying allegations remains ongoing.
Authorities are urging anyone with additional information to contact the Los Angeles Police Department Juvenile Division at (213) 486-0500 or submit anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
