A Mississippi girl, AvaLynn , was allegedly severely beaten by another student at school, and photos of girl have gone viral on Facebook and Twitter on Friday. However, the school issued a statement saying the girl suffered injuries while playing on the playground.
The mother of the girl, Lacey Harris, wrote on Friday night: “As much as my heart is broken for my daughter, I am also amazed by the outpouring of love and support from our family, friends, Oasis church family and our community. Thank you so much for your concern, kind words, prayers, thoughts, shares, and donation. We ask that you continue these kind gestures.”
A local police official identified Harris as the mother, according toGulfLive.com.
The girl appeared to have two black eyes and cuts on her face.
Read the mother’s account of the event, has posted on her Facebook page:
“On Tuesday, August 26, 2014, Lacey Harris was called go come pick up her daughter at Arlington Elementary School in Pascagoula, Mississippi, because AvaLynn had been injured in an accident. The sight Lacey found when she got to Ava’s school was a parents’ nightmare: her face swollen, cut, and bruised beyond recognition.
Lacey rushed Ava to the family pediatrician, who burst into tears upon seeing the Ava’s battered visage. Fortunately, the doctor determined that it is unlikely that Ava would have any permanent physical damage. Mental and emotional damage is another story altogether.
AvaLynn informed Lacey that she was assaulted by another student: that she was kicked repeatedly in the face until she fell off of the slide on the school’s playground. The school informed Lacey were no teachers present when the incident occurred, and because of that, no one could prove whether or not another student had harmed Ava.
After days of Lacey, friends, and family members reaching out to local news stations and to Facebook and other social media bodies, the school finally released a statement: AvaLynn was injured as the result of an accident, one that involved no other children. Although a police report was filed, Pascagoula Police Department states that they are not investigating the situation.
The school basically claims that Ava injured herself, as all the photos depicting her injuries will debunk. The local PD claims that there has been no criminal act, which the injury photos also disprove.
So now we’ve taken this to Facebook, asking everyone out there to please share this page, to please share AvaLynn’s story. We need this to reach as many people as possible so that this little girl will not go without justice. Please share this with your friends, your relatives, and all your local news outlets. Please help us get the answers and the justice that our little angel deserves.
However, the school has denied the mother’s claim, and below is their own version of the story:
“A student was injured while playing on the playground at Arlington Elementary School Tuesday afternoon. School officials responded to the situation. The parent was contacted and the student received medical treatment. No other children were involved in the incident. The Pascagoula School District remains committed to the safety of all its students.”
According to Pascagoula Police Department Lt. Jim Roe:
“The mother alleges another child kicked her child on the slide. Right now, there’s no indication something criminal took place. I have spoken with school security and an assistant superintendent is investigating the matter.”