Bullying leads to stabbing at Akron high school

AKRON -- A 14-year-old ninth grader who claims a group of boys stole $95 and his MP3 player apparently stabbed one of the bullies in retaliation.

It started last week when the 14-year-old boy walked home from school. He claims three boys held him down and robbed him. Then, one of the boys? accused of robbing him, a 15-year-old ninth grader, confronted him again the cafeteria on Monday.

"The other young man came over to him and actually threw a punch at him so he was fine until he pulled a weapon and used a weapon," says Akron Schools Superintendent Sylvester Small.

The 14-year-old stabbed his classmate in the side with a butter knife he brought from home. He now faces aggravated assault charges.

"When you feel you have no other recourse because no one's going to help you than the only way I can stay alive is if I act out this way," says Susan Tucker of Summit County Domestic Relations Court.

The Community Outreach Director say victim's of bullying are most likely to act violently in the schools.

"What our kids learn, both from the video games they play, from the movies they watch, from cartoons, from school specials," she says, "what they learn is the only answer is when someone does that to you is to answer with violence."

"He's basically good," says Kaffey Osbourne, the stabbing victim's aunt, surprised her nephew is involved in something like this. "He's a boy, he has his moments."

"When there's a problem, let us know about it so the adults can deal with it," says Small. "Everybody loses because everybody's up for expulsion."

The 15-year-old's aunt says he was released from the hospital Tuesday afternoon and is doing well. The 14-year-old is currently in juvenile detention on Dann Street.