HORRY CO, SC (WBTW)- Last week News 13 told you about parents filing a lawsuit against Horry County Schools after, they say, their child was bullied and feared being killed at school. Now, News 13 hears from the family’s attorney and taking a closer look at how often bullying is being reported.
The family’s attorney Samantha Albrecht said bullying lawsuits are happening more often, not just in our area, but across the state.
According to the lawsuit, the boy was a fifth grade student at Lakewood Elementary.
The lawsuit said another student taunted, bullied, attacked, and threatened to kill the child to the point the 10-year-old was diagnosed with major depressive disorder and PTSD.
“They’re filing a lawsuit to one try to prevent future instances like this from happening and two to try to get the district to take some responsibility for what happened to their son,” said attorney, Samantha Albrecht.
News 13 looked into how often bullying is reported in Horry County. In 2014, there were only 14 reported incidents. The next year it jumped to 67, and the 2016-2017 school year saw 83 reports.
School leaders said growth in the district, and more students coming forward to report bullying may be behind the increase. It’s something Abigail Walsh has seen first hand.
“I just wish that people could be kinder to others. I know that some people go through things in their lives and they want to feel tougher and they decide to be big and bad and bully,” said Walsh.
Abigail goes to Healthy Concepts which is a leadership program that helps kids who have been bullied and teaches them how to combat bullying it when it happens.
“We are the other adult that your child can come to and talk to and let us be that advocate for that child. Let us be that bridge,” said Lisa Melendez, co-founder and executive director of Healthy Concepts.
Healthy Concepts is working on putting together a bullying forum with schools in the area in October.
As for the lawsuit, District officials told News 13 they don’t comment on pending litigation.
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