17-year-old with autism sucker-punched in Dayton Public School hallway

A 17-year-old with autism was sucker-punched in a Dayton Public School hallway this week.

The assault took place Thursday morning at Thurgood Marshall High School.

Meagan Bistreck, the boy’s mother, says no one notified her of the attack after it happened. She learned about the incident after her son sent her a video of the assault, which was sent to him by other students.

“I didn’t realize it was my child, who thinks it’s going to be your kid getting hit in the back of the head like that.”

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She says the attack appears to be pre-meditated with another student recording it, and believes her son was assaulted for wearing the color red.

“I’m mad because he’s getting hit for wearing a specific color.”

Bistreck said the same student that hit her son asked him moments earlier if he was gang-affiliated and her son said no, red just happens to be his favorite color.

“It’s not fair to him, he didn’t do anything wrong, he shouldn’t be punished. That’s exactly what’s happening, he’s being punished for other people’s actions.”

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WHIO reached out to Dayton Public Schools and they said, “DPS cannot comment on this matter as it relates to student discipline.”

Bistreck was told the student involved received a suspension, but a DPS spokesperson couldn’t confirm that.