PA Mom Charged In 'Bleach Attack' Of Child As School Let Out

PENNSYLVANIA — A Pennsylvania mother has been arrested after throwing bleach on a 6th grade girl before her young daughter began to fight the child, according to law enforcement and school officials.

The incident took place at the Harrisburg School District's Rowland Academy on Monday, Dec. 20 as school was being dismissed.

The mother and her daughter, who had not been in school that day, drove up as students were let out, the school said.

According to the school district, "the parent and child exited the car and quickly dumped a container of bleach onto another sixth grade student, and began hitting the student."

The child who was attacked was walking to her family's car when the incident occurred, authorities said. The mother of the other child leapt into the fray to defend her daughter, leading to a fight involving both adults and children, according to CBS 21.

PennLive reports that the mother defending her daughter also arrested and charged with simple assault.

Staff members broke up the fight and the first mother fled the scene, only to be arrested shortly thereafter by Pennsylvania State Police.

The child who was hit with the bleach was treated by a school nurse on the scene, and was then taken to the hospital by a family member for further care.

"The Harrisburg School District will impose the most serious actions possible under our discipline code," Superintendent Eric Truman said. "The parent involved will not be permitted back on school property, and this incident has been reported to Children and Youth Services. We simply will not tolerate any kind of violence or inappropriate behavior by parents on school property."

Truman noted that the incident was just the latest in a series of escalating threats and violence on school grounds around the country.

"An incident like this is extremely upsetting and troubling for our entire school community. Harrisburg is not unlike schools nationwide that have seen a dramatic increase in student disturbances, disputes, and violence."

A preliminary hearing for the mother is forthcoming. Specific charges have not yet been announced.