NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk Police are investigating a reported attack on a 16-year-old girl at school.
Cynthia Smith wants justice after she says four students attacked her daughter, Tatiana, at Lake Taylor High School during lunch on Oct. 5.
Tatiana said she was kicked in the head and face, leaving her with a broken nose and concussion. The injuries were so bad, Tatiana had to go to the trauma unit and spent the night at Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters.
“They beat her, and nobody was there to really help her,” Smith said.
Now, Tatiana is recovering at home. She spoke with News 3's Antoinette DelBel over the phone. Tatiana said she's doing better but is traumatized. However, that’s not stopping her from wanting to go back to school. She said not going would give her bullies power.
Smith said Tatiana did not know the students who attacked her.
Smith believes her daughter was targeted because she’s transgender.
“She’s a good child,” said Smith. “She’s not a fighter. She is a lovable person. She has friends and she’s not a troublemaker, but they just keep picking on her because of who she chose to be."
Smith said she notified the school’s principal weeks ago that her daughter was being harassed and threatened.
“She’s real pretty, and they just didn’t like her,” she said. “She just had to deal with this, and she’s been tormented, harassed and bullied at the same school for the last two years.”
She added the school did nothing to protect her.
“They dragged they feet, trying to help her and keep her safe, so I blame the school for not protecting my daughter,” said Smith. "I just want justice.”
Justice, for Smith, is having the students expelled from school and locked up.
Police are investigating the incident as an assault, not a hate crime. They said charges against the children involved are pending.
Norfolk Public Schools said it can't comment on cases involving students in order to protect their identity, but they did share their procedures on bullying and acts of violence.
A spokesperson for the school division sent this statement:
I can share with you that NPS has many standards, policies, and procedures that address bullying, harassment, and physical acts of violence. I have included documents from the 2022-2023 Student Handbook, [npsk12.com] including the Standards of Student Conduct. Also attached is Policy JFCZ, Bullying Prevention and Awareness and Policy JFHA/GBA Prohibition Against Harassment and Retaliation. Both policies include in-depth information on what is considered bullying and harassment and the procedures for addressing both. The following pages from the student handbook also provide detailed information on how NPS views and responds to student behaviors. Information on how to report bullying and harassment is also included.
- Pages 86-89 Bullying, Cyberbullying and Harassment Prevention and Support-which includes links to the NPS and DSSS website for more information, definitions, Virginia Code, resources, and ways to report.
- Pages 106, 108, and 111-Student Behavior Categories and Descriptors
- Pages 118, 119, and 120-Leveled Responses to Student Behavior
- Pages 122-124-Levels of Interventions/Consequences
- Information on SafeSchools Alert System
Smith said she’s filing a civil lawsuit against the school.
