A New Jersey mom pushing her baby in a stroller was viciously attacked and left for dead by a high school bully who took exception to her 12-year-old son defending the rights of Mexican immigrants.
Beronica Ruiz, 35, of Passaic, was brutally attacked after she complained to the school’s vice principal about three students who threatened her son and told him to ‘go back to Mexico,’ the woman’s attorney said Friday.
Ruiz was hospitalized for two days after the 13-year-old student – one of three who had been taunting her son – allegedly jumped her while she was with her baby and the 12-year-old boy.
Beronica Ruiz, 35, of Passaic, was brutally attacked after she complained to the school’s vice principal about three students who threatened her son and told him to ‘go back to Mexico,’ the woman’s attorney said Friday
Ruiz was hospitalized for two days after the 13-year-old student – one of three who had been taunting her son – allegedly jumped her while she was with her baby and the 12-year-old boy
‘This was a horrific and brutal attack,’ lawyer Daniel Santiago said. ‘It takes a certain level of insanity to brutally attack a mother with a stroller and leave her for dead.’
Ruiz suffered a fractured eye socket, bruises and a bloodshot eye that remained red for days after the attack.
The day prior to the attack, Ruiz’s son was taunted in the school cafeteria of Passaic Gifted and Talented Academy School No. 20.
‘They were chanting ‘Mexicans should go back behind the wall,’ Santiago told NJ Media.
Ruiz suffered a fractured eye socket, bruises and a bloodshot eye that remained red for days after the attack. The day prior to the attack, Ruiz’s son was taunted in the school cafeteria of Passaic Gifted and Talented Academy School No. 20
When the young boy replied: ‘We all come from immigrants’ the bullies allegedly threatened violence, Santiago said.
When the boy went home that afternoon, he told his mother about the threats of violence and said he was afraid to return to the school.
Ruiz then went to the school and complained to the vice principal, demanding to know why the school had not told her of the abuse.
The vice principal admitted to the mother that he should have called them but that he had become busy with other matters, Santiago said.
Ruiz then went to the school and complained to the vice principal, demanding to know why the school had not told her of the abuse. The vice principal admitted to the mother that he should have called them but that he had become busy with other matters, Santiago said
‘That’s a woefully inadequate response,’ Santiago said. ‘My bad’ is not a good excuse for not calling (the parents), not telling them.’
The vice prinicipal also allegedly refused to suspend the student before the attack and said the attacker ‘had just as much right to an education as her son.’
It was only after the boy’s father, Alfonso Vasquez, contacted Passaic Mayor Hector Lora that the teen bully was suspended, Santiago said.
The attack took place after the teen was suspended.
Lora said in a statement: ‘As both a father and a husband I am outraged over this incident. As mayor, these are things you wish would never occur in your city or anywhere.
It was only after the boy’s father, Alfonso Vasquez, contacted Passaic Mayor Hector Lora that the teen bully was suspended, Santiago said
‘This incident is being taken extremely seriously. I have met with and spoken personally with the family. I have met with my chief of police, local officials and school administration as well as board members to make sure there is accountability and that this family receives justice as well as any help and resources we can provide.
‘The details regarding what led up to this incident remain under investigation. However, one thing is very clear: what occurred to this mother is unacceptable and whatever we need to do as a city, as a community, to do better by our families and our children, we will do.’
The mayor said the student has been suspended from school and charged with assault.
A spokesman for the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office said the suspect was charged as a juvenile with one count each of aggravated assault and simple assault, and released to the custody of his parents ahead of a Family Court appearance.