A Long Island mother was arrested Tuesday after allegedly striking a 14-year-old girl in the head with a large water cup during an altercation outside Brentwood High School, leaving the teen with a head injury that required 17 stitches.
Toni Monroe, 35, reportedly became involved in a dispute between her 15-year-old daughter and the younger teen, which began as a verbal argument outside the school around 11 a.m., according to Suffolk County police.
Authorities say Monroe, who claimed she was at the school to report bullying involving her daughter during summer classes, allegedly lost her temper and struck the victim multiple times with a Stanley water cup. The girl, identified as Madison Evans, told WABC’s Eyewitness News she began bleeding heavily from the head.
“Her mom just came in and started beating me with the cup,” Evans said. “I saw blood dripping. I took my head and I saw blood all over my hands.”
Witnesses told News12 Long Island that Monroe used the container to hit Evans several times before a school security officer intervened and subdued her. Police arrived shortly after and took Monroe into custody.
In a statement to parents, Brentwood Superintendent Wanda Ortiz-Rivera acknowledged the incident, saying, “The safety and well-being of our students is always our highest priority, and this type of behavior is unacceptable and will not be tolerated in our schools.”
Monroe appeared in court Wednesday, where her attorney maintained she had come to the school for a scheduled meeting regarding alleged bullying of her daughter.
Evans’ family members expressed shock and anger. “As a mom you’re supposed to diffuse the situation and take your daughter away,” said Tyleen Smith, Evans’ cousin. “Instead of attacking a kid with a cup.”
“She could’ve died,” added Evans’ guardian, Shameakca Forney. “More could have happened than just being hit and getting stitches.”
Monroe was released without bail but must wear an ankle monitor and comply with an order of protection preventing her from contacting Evans.
