Special needs child was target of hate crime, mother says

The mother of a 17-year-old Memorial High School student with special needs is demanding more action from the Spring Branch Independent School District as well as FBI involvement after she claims her son was the target of what she is calling a hate crime. The allegations stem from incidents that Hattie Williams, the mother of the student, told Eyewitness News began in early February. She declined to identify her son to the media. "They had an altercation and some words were exchanged, and it got out of hand and that's when the physical altercation happened," Williams said. According to Williams, her son, who is black, was lured off campus and allegedly beaten by five white students who also attend the same high school. She claims her son sustained a concussion from the fight. In addition, the mom claims several social media threats were also directed toward her son that included hate speech, as well as threats. She says none of the five students allegedly involved in the fight were punished by the school district, but says her son has since been placed in in-school suspension. Among the social posts in question was one that referenced a shooting. "These kids talk about committing a shooting on campus. Look at this," said Quanell X, a community activist supporting the student. "They're talking about shooting this mother's son on campus." https://abc13.com/5158400/