GALVESTON, Texas – A Galveston mother is upset, speaking out and looking for answers after her 11-year-old son was suspended and placed in alternative school for pulling a BB pistol on three fellow students.
Noelle Bruce says what pushed her son, Deavon Josey, over the edge is when his classmates from KIPP Coastal Village Middle School said they would beat him up and then beat his 9-year-old sister.
"This school should've done their job in protecting him," Bruce said.
Bruce says it happened after weeks of Deavon and the boys going back-and-forth with notes that became contentious. On the day in question Deavon ran home, grabbed a BB pistol, then ran back to the school and confronted the boys.
"These boys were waiting in the park for him," said Bruce. "So he pulls it out and yells at them and said 'Stay away from me and my sister,' really in just an effort in an attempt to scare them."
Galveston police arrested Deavon. The school district suspended him, and placed him in an alternative school for nearly six weeks.
In a statement Galveston ISD told Local 2 they also disciplined one of the other boys and added, "If a student takes it upon themselves to escalate the situation, there will be consequences following the district's student code of conduct."
Bruce says she understands the discipline but believes the school ignored her son's earlier calls for help.
"They tend to punish the kid who reacts, not the kids that are pushing the kid to react and no child should ever feel like they are not being heard," Bruce said.
