Mother And Daughter Enter School, Attack Wrong Middle School Students Over Bullying Incident

A mother and daughter were arrested for entering a South Carolina middle school and attacking students after their family member was bullied. Investigators said the pair attacked three students who had nothing to do with the bullying incident.

Whitley Smith, 32, and Mamie Smith, 67, arrived at Ebenezer Middle School in Sumter County on Wednesday afternoon and told the staff they wanted to go to the attendance office.

Once they were inside, the mother and daughter ran down the hallway and ambushed a female student. They pushed the girl against a wall and hit and scratched her head and face, WLTX reported. They then pushed and hit two other students, the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office said.

One of the three victims was taken by their parents to receive medical attention.

Investigators believe a bullying incident involving the suspects’ family member triggered the attack on the middle school students.

"Our investigation showed that the students who were viciously attacked were not even the students who these subjects believed had bullied their family member," Sheriff Anthony Dennis said.

Sixth-grader Morgan Canty said her teacher took them inside a classroom during the incident.

"All I heard was yelling, yelling, yelling and Mrs. Wilson, she had to get us in the classroom and she gave us a pep talk about how she was trying to keep us safe," Canty told WLTX. “...We couldn't see it, but all we heard was screaming and stuff."

Whitley received medical attention following the incident. The mother and daughter were taken into custody and charged with third-degree assault by mob and disturbing schools.

Kelsey Ellerbe said her 12-year-old daughter was one of the victims. “I was so mad, and at the moment who would be calm?” Ellerbe told WIS TV. “In a situation like that, who would be calm?”

“How would y’all feel if that was your kid being attacked by two grown adults, a 32-year-old and 67-year-old woman?” she said. “How would you feel? As a mom, as a single mother, I’m hurt. I’m hurt by that. My daughter is hurt. She’s traumatized…”

Ellerbe said the school needs “better security.”

“How were they able to get to the back of the school? That’s my question. How were they able to get past all of that and go down the hall, all the way down the hall and down some more to kids.”

Sumter School District Superintendent Dr. Penelope Martin-Knox called the incident “deeply disturbing.”

“We have safety protocols in place that are adhered to, and we continue to remind staff what those procedures are,” Martin-Knox said in a statement. “Our expectation is for visitors to be admitted through the outdoor security system after stating their purpose for entry. Based on the information that was shared with the staff, it was described as official business for the visit.”

Martin-Knox said they will review safety protocols “to see if adjustments and modifications need to be made and will do so in an expedient manner where necessary.”