Advertisement

Coppell parents want student who put son in chokehold to be expelled from middle school

Coppell school district leaders are investigating an incident involving a student being put in a headlock after video of the altercation, and the school’s response, got attention on social media.

The video, taken on May 11, shows a student standing behind a sitting student in the cafeteria at Coppell Middle School North. After a brief argument, the standing student puts the other one in a chokehold multiple times until he drags him out of his chair.

Sonika Kukreja, the mother of the sitting student, said her son received three days of in-school suspension while the student who put him in a headlock received one day of in-school suspension.

The video was widely shared on social media, and Kukreja started an online petition that received over 320,000 signatures.

In the petition, Kukreja alleged the student who applied the chokehold on her son is on the wrestling team and is carrying out a dangerous carotid restraint.

She’s demanding that the student be removed from the school.

“[He] should be able to continue his school experience, friendships and extra-curricular activities with zero worry of ever having to cross paths with this student again,” she said in the petition. “He does not feel safe.”

Mark Lassiter, the attorney for the family of the other student, said he’s fully cooperating with authorities and alleged that the seated student made violent threats against the standing student’s younger brother and against the family members of other students at the table, according to the Dallas Morning News.

On Sunday, Coppell Superintendent Brad Hunt released a statement that said the district was investigating the incident.

“We never want to see anyone experience physical harm or bullying, either verbally or physically,” he said. “It is our priority to protect and keep our students safe.”

Hunt said the incident is being investigated and addressed according to the district’s Student Code of Conduct.

“This process deserves the necessary time it takes to be thorough and accurate for all parties involved.,” he said.