A former high school coach in Michigan He faces charges after strangling a fourteen-year-old student using a T-shirt. The incident was captured by the location’s surveillance cameras. The event occurred on June 4, 2024 in the Ypsilanti Middle School and was denounced by the lawyer of the teenager’s family, Jordan VahdatAs reported ABC News.
In the surveillance images, released by lawyer Vahdat, the employee can be seen approaching the student, identified by his family as Michael Moon, while walking down a hallway. The man lifts a T-shirt over the teen’s head, and he struggles to free himself before escaping and walking away. The incident lasted less than twenty seconds.
Michael’s mother, Yolanda Ellisexpressed his indignation in an interview with Fox 2 Detroit: “I am outraged that someone would come after a 14-year-old boy and proceed to strangle him.”noting that her son had recently shown social improvements, but that the incident had deeply affected him.
The Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed to ABC News that two charges have been authorized against the accused: assault with intent to cause great bodily harm by strangulation, and assault and battery, a misdemeanor. No additional details about the case have been provided.
Ypsilanti Community Schools Principal, Alena Zachery-Rossstated that the employee no longer works in the school district and is not permitted to be on school property or attend school events. “Our priority is to create a safe and supportive environment for all students,” Zachery-Ross said in a statement cited by FOXNews. “The employee’s actions are absolutely unacceptable and will not be tolerated in our district.”
In a letter to the school community, Zachery-Ross reported that The school district “immediately” contacted social services authorities and began cooperating with local law enforcement after learning of the incident. “We understand the concern this incident may cause in our community,” the letter noted. “Please know that we are committed to continuing to cooperate fully with the authorities involved.”
Michael’s parents reported the incident to police, who showed them surveillance footage. The teen’s mother, Yolanda Ellis, expressed her horror at seeing the video and mentioned that the incident made her “lose trust in that coach, because he was someone that Michael looked up to.”
The incident apparently happened after the coach, who also served as a hallway supervisor, ordered Michael to do push-ups because he was playing in the hallway. The young man refused the order because he had an injured hand, according to his parents. W X Y Zsubsidiary of ABC News in Detroit.
Michael’s father, Steve Moondeclared to W X Y Z: “I need this man to pay for what he did to my son, and that means getting fired, losing his job, and sitting in jail.” The teen’s parents had been asking for charges in the incident.
