INDIANAPOLIS — A former Indianapolis Public Schools student is in jail and a teacher is recovering after an attack at George Washington High School on the near west side of Indianapolis.
Darry Dickman was filling in for another teacher during his prep period when he was attacked on Sept. 10 at the school near West Washington Street and North Belmont Avenue.
Dickman said he was discussing a recent school football game when 19-year-old Aziz Mahamadou walked up from three rows back and hit him in the face. Dickman says he was knocked out. When he collapsed to the floor, a student says Mahamadou allegedly started kicking Dickman in the ribs. Dickman regained consciousness and blocked one of the kicks with his leg.
Mahamadou allegedly said, "You don't think I don't speak English."
When Dickman got back on his feet, he told the student to leave the classroom. He told police that he contacted school officials and continued to teach the class while he waited for them to respond.
Police found Mahamadou in the principal's office and arrested him.
Dickman told 13News he has a concussion and broken ribs, and was not comfortable speaking on camera in his current condition. He is currently on medical leave, IPS told 13News on Tuesday.
IPS responds to attack
An IPS spokesperson says Mahamadou is no longer an IPS student. They also sent the following statement:
"Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) is aware that a student at George Washington High School was arrested by IPS Police following an incident with a teacher and another student on Sept. 10.
The student, who was arrested, has also been disciplined through the IPS Code of Conduct.
The safety of our students and staff is always our top priority at IPS."
According to IPS, 90 teachers were injured by students over the course of the last school year. Three of those teachers missed at least a part of a day of work, due to their injuries.