HALL COUNTY, Ga. — A Hall County teen was arrested after attacking a fellow student during school.
Joshua Lionel Jackson, 17, of Flowery Branch assaulted and seriously injured a 15-year-old fellow Johnson High School student, police said.
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The incident occurred on Friday just after 1 p.m. during class change.
Hall County Sheriff’s Office investigators determined Jackson picked up the victim from behind and slammed him onto the concrete floor of the classroom.
The victim’s head hit the floor, leaving him unconscious and triggering a seizure.
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Deputies say Jackson continued to strike the unconscious teen while his trauma continued, leading him to be hospitalized.
Investigators say Jackson slapped his victim about a half-hour before the classroom assault occurred.
Jackson was arrested Monday, April 25 and charged with misdemeanor simple battery and felony aggravated battery.
On Thursday, Channel 2′s Steve Gehlbach talked to Jackson’s mother, who said there is more to the story than it would appear.
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Jackson’s mother did not want to show her face, but called her son as she spoke with Gehlbach. She admitted that the video does show her son body slamming the victim, but said that it was self-defense.
“He threatened to shoot my son,” she said. “That’s when the incident happened.”
Jackson defended himself to Gehlbach from the Hall County Detention Center.
“He said he was going to shoot me and stuff, and I didn’t take that lightly,” Jackson said. “I got scared.”
Jackson’s mother said that the school district never investigated the incident and didn’t question Jackson until she asked them to.
“I don’t bully nobody,” Jackson said. “I don’t talk to nobody.”
Over the phone, Jackson said he didn’t have a problem with the victim before that day. He said he came at the victim from behind because he feared for his life.
The district said the victim was disciplined and the case was turned over to law enforcement.
He remains in custody at the Hall County Jail awaiting his initial court appearance.
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