Police say an elementary school teacher was hit in the face with a brick and dragged from her car in Pittsburgh after a dispute with the parents of one of her students.
They say the attack happened around 3:15 p.m. Wednesday as 46-year-old Janice Watkins was leaving Pittsburgh King PreK-8 on the North Side.
Authorities say she was being followed by a couple in a SUV, and when she stopped at an intersection near the West End Bridge, the woman threw a brick at her.
Police say the couple then pulled Watkins out of her car and continued to assault her. Watkins was hospitalized with facial injuries and a lost tooth. Police say they were preparing arrest warrants for the couple late Wednesday.
According to a statement from the Pittsburgh Public Schools, the district is cooperating with the City of Pittsburgh Police Department’s investigation.
“Violence of any kind against a PPS staff member or citizen is unacceptable, and the individuals responsible must be held accountable for such horrifying behavior,” the statement reads.
The district said the incident is not representative of "the many great parents and families who choose the Pittsburgh Public Schools for the education of their children, and we look to our families to continue to support and work collaboratively with our teachers and staff.”
The district declined further comment as the situation is an active investigation.
KDKA reported the incident might have been in retaliation for the confiscation of a cell phone.
