OMAHA, NE -- High school bullies in Omaha, Nebraska chose a Deaf student as their victim in a sickening incident that has gained national attention, KMTV reported.The mean-spirited students dumped the contents of Alex Hernandez's backpack into a toilet at mainstreaming school.
Alex, a senior, had left his backpack on a chair while getting some food Wednesday in the cafeteria of Burke High School. When he returned, it was gone.
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Alex told school administrators, but a search proved fruitless. However, when school security video was examined, two male students were seen walking off with his bag.
"Those students think it's okay to bully a Deaf student, but it's not. It's not okay to bully someone who is Disabled, Deaf or Hard of Hearing," Hernandez told KMTV. "Or anyone for that matter."
The backpack contained his tablet, a debit card, school supplies, a battery for his cochlear implant and his homework. It was the homework that really bothered him. The toilet dousing ruined his English project.
"I was very upset because I know I work really hard on my project and homework because I just want to make my mom to be happy and know that I did a good job on the homework," he told KMTV.
According to the station, school administrators told Alex's mother that the students who took the backpack were eventually identified and that one has been suspended. The pair claim they didn't know Alex was Deaf.
The incident remains under investigation. Meanwhile Alex's mother has pulled the boy out of Burke High so he can transfer to another high school.
Alex's sister and some of his friends set up a GoFundMe page to raise money to replace the ruined items. The goal was reached, and the account has since been closed. Source.
UPDATE:
Students Involved in Burke High Incident Have Been Disciplined, District Says.
KETV: The Omaha Public School District released a statement Tuesday, saying the students involved in the incident have been disciplined. The district said, because of privacy laws, they would not identify the students, or provide specific details about the discipline. Here is the full text of the statement.
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"We are aware of the situation involving theft of a student’s property that occurred last week at Burke High School.
This situation was an isolated incident. It involved theft of property that was later discarded, captured on photo by students and shared on social media. Interviews with the students involved revealed they did not know each other... Read More.
